Editing Proxemics (section)

== Human distances ==

The distance surrounding a person forms a space. The space within intimate distance and personal distance is called ''personal space''. The space within social distance and out of personal distance is called ''social space'', and the space within public distance is called ''public space''.

Personal space is the region surrounding a person which they regard as psychologically theirs. Most people value their personal space and feel discomfort, anger, or anxiety when their personal space is encroached.<ref name="Hall">{{cite book | last = Hall | first = Edward T. | title = The Hidden Dimension | publisher = Anchor Books | year = 1966 | isbn = 978-0-385-08476-5}}</ref>  Permitting a person to enter personal space and entering somebody else's personal space are indicators of perception of those people's relationship. An intimate zone is reserved for close friends, lovers, children, and close family members. Another zone is used for conversations with friends, to chat with associates, and in group discussions. A further zone is reserved for strangers, newly formed groups, and new acquaintances. A fourth zone is used for speeches, lectures, and theater; essentially, public distance is that range reserved for larger audiences.<ref>{{cite book|author=Engleberg, Isa N.|title=Working in Groups: Communication Principles and Strategies|series=My Communication Kit Series|year=2006|pages=140–141}}</ref>

Entering somebody's personal space is normally an indication of familiarity and sometimes intimacy. However, in modern society, especially in crowded urban communities, it can be difficult to maintain personal space, for example when in a crowded [[train]], [[elevator]], or street. Many people find such physical proximity to be psychologically disturbing and uncomfortable,<ref name="Hall" /> though it is accepted as a fact of modern life. In an impersonal, crowded situation, eye contact tends to be avoided. Even in a crowded place, preserving personal space is important, and intimate and [[sexual contact]], such as [[frotteurism]] and [[groping]], is unacceptable physical contact.

A person's personal space is carried with them everywhere they go. It is the most inviolate form of territory.<ref>{{cite book|last=Richmond |first=Virginia |title=Nonverbal Behavior in Interpersonal Relations |year=2008 |publisher=Pearson/A and B|location=Boston|isbn=9780205042302|page=130}}</ref> Body spacing and [[Posture (psychology)|posture]], according to Hall, are unintentional reactions to sensory fluctuations or shifts, such as subtle changes in the sound and pitch of a person's voice. Social distance between people is reliably correlated with physical distance, as are intimate and personal distance, according to the delineations below. Hall did not mean for these measurements to be strict guidelines that translate precisely to human behavior, but rather a system for gauging the effect of distance on communication and how the effect varies between cultures and other environmental factors.

=== Interpersonal distance ===
[[Edward T. Hall|Hall]] described the interpersonal distances of humans (the relative distances between people) in four distinct zones:

[[File:Personal Space.svg|thumb|A chart depicting [[Edward T. Hall]]'s interpersonal distances of man, showing [[radius]] in feet and meters]]
* '''[[Intimacy|Intimate]] distance''' for embracing, touching or whispering
** ''Close phase''&nbsp;– less than one inch (0.01 to 0.02&nbsp;m)
** ''Far phase''&nbsp;– {{convert|6|to|18|in|m}}
* '''Personal distance''' for interactions among good [[friendship|friends]] or [[family]]
** ''Close phase''&nbsp;– {{convert|1.5|to|2.5|ft|m}}
** ''Far phase''&nbsp;– {{convert|2.5|to|4|ft|m}}
* '''[[Social distance]]''' for interactions among acquaintances
** ''Close phase''&nbsp;– {{convert|4|to|7|ft|m}}
** ''Far phase''&nbsp;– {{convert|7|to|12|ft|m}}
* '''Public distance''' used for public speaking
** ''Close phase''&nbsp;– {{convert|12|to|25|ft|m}}
** ''Far phase''&nbsp;– {{convert|25|ft|m}} or more.

==== Vertical ====
The distances mentioned above are horizontal distance. There is also vertical distance that communicates something between people. In this case, however, vertical distance is often understood to convey the degree of dominance or sub-ordinance in a relationship. Looking up at or down on another person can be taken literally in many cases, with the higher person asserting greater status.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book| publisher = Boise State University| last = Ry| first = Veronica Van| title = Sociological Communication| chapter = 3.6: Types of Nonverbal Communication| access-date = 2024-06-05| date = 2023| chapter-url = https://boisestate.pressbooks.pub/soc122/chapter/3-6-types-of-nonverbal-communication/}}</ref>

Teachers, and especially those who work with small children, should realize that students will interact more comfortably with a teacher when they are in same vertical plane. Used in this way, an understanding of vertical distance can become a tool for improved teacher-student communication. On the other hand, a disciplinarian might put this information to use in order to gain psychological advantage over an unruly student.<ref name=":1" />