Symbols: The Art of Communication by Joyce Knudsen

Author:Joyce Knudsen [Knudsen, Joyce]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2014-10-08T18:30:00+00:00

DISTANCE ZONES

Intimate Zone: 0'–1 ½' –Actually touching or of distance to be easily touched.

Personal Zone: 1 ½'–4' –Arm length with the ability to shake hands.

Social-Consult Zone: 4'–10' –Works with business.

Public Zone: 10' away from the person.

The more we get to know a person, the more we are permitted into that person’s personal space. Executives, presidents of colleges, and government officials have large offices with big space . . . secretaries have small space.

In an experiment, Crane asked couples to walk towards each other while conversing and stop when they reached a comfortable conversational distance. Then he gave each couple a test to measure marital intimacy, desire for change, and potential for divorce. He discovered a relationship between distance and happiness. Happy couples stood 11.4 inches apart while distressed couples stood 14.8 inches apart; distressed couples’ distance was 25% greater than happy couples.

We react negatively to someone who invades our space. For example, if someone comes too close for your personal space, you may step back to a distance where you are more comfortable. People that are forced close together, such as on an elevator, or subway, show an uncomfortable mindset as you notice them turning their heads or watching the numbers on the display for their floor – they want to get off ASAP. When you are in someone’s office, it is not okay to put your briefcase on someone’s desk. That is their personal space.

When we speak to another individual or group, the distance our bodies are physically apart also communicates a message. Most of us are unaware of the importance of space in communication until we are confronted with someone who uses it differently.

For instance, we all have a sense of what is a comfortable interaction distance to a person with whom we are speaking. If that person gets closer than the distance at which we are comfortable, we usually automatically back up to reestablish our comfort zone. Similarly, if we feel that we are too far away from the person we are talking to, we are likely to close the distance between us.

If two speakers have different comfortable interaction distances, a ballet of shifting positions usually occurs until one of the individuals is backed into a corner and feels threatened by what may be perceived as hostile or sexual overtures. As a result, the verbal message may not be listened to or understood as it was intended.

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