Nose of a jet

Proxemics

This is the study of personal space. Territory is the space that you define as your own around your body. It is like an air bubble. Its size is dependent upon where you were brought up ie if your were growing up in the country your personal space would be larger. In the 1990s, aircraft seats were packed together to increase the number of people on planes and hence profits. Aircraft violence was much higher at this time.

There are 4 zones:

  1. Intimate 15 – 45cm for lovers, parents, spouse, relatives, close friends, pets.
  2. Personal 46 – 122cm parties and social functions.
  3. Social 122 - 360cm tradesmen and strangers.
  4. Public > 360cm when addressing large groups of people e.g. audiences.
Lift Rules

Personal space can be compromised in lifts. Here are some of the unwritten rules that we partake in:

  1. No talking (even if you know someone).
  2. Avoid eye contact at all times.
  3. Be poker faced – show no emotions.
  4. If you have a newspaper pretend to be engrossed in it.
  5. In bigger crowds, no body movement is allowed.
  6. You must watch the floor numbers change.

Click here to learn more about personal space.

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