The emergence of proxemics
The author of the term “proxemics” is Edward Hall, an American psychologist and anthropologist. The scientist noticed that each person has his own personal space, which he unconsciously tries to organize in a way that is comfortable for himself. In 1969, E. Hall wrote a book called “The Silent Language,” in which he described the characteristics of relationships between people, expressed in varying distances between interlocutors. Here, for the first time, the definition of the concept of “proxemics” in psychology was given: this is a type of nonverbal communication characterized by the distance between communicating people.
Individual characteristics
Although the concept of proxemics implies a certain distance, which is expressed in specific numbers, these indicators can be considered more conventional than a specific guideline in the communication process. If you observe several people selectively, it will be noticeable that one is able to easily let other interlocutors approach him, while the other keeps everyone at a distance, although the topic of conversation and the status of the interlocutors are the same in both situations. This is due to the characteristics of each individual; This is influenced by others, family, upbringing and other factors.
Communication between people is rarely reflected in such indicators as nationality and race, as well as the cultural characteristics of the interlocutor. Even hostility between people is more often expressed through verbal communication and gestures than by distance between interlocutors.
Types of distances during communication
Depending on the proximity of the relationship and the size of personal space, when communicating with each other, people unconsciously choose different distances between themselves and the interlocutor. Proxemics as a means of communication describes 4 types of distance.
intimate
Intimate distance is inherent in communication in which people are quite close to each other. These could be, for example, lovers, close friends, relatives, children and parents. A distance between people of 15 to 45 centimeters is considered intimate. In some cultures, a distance of up to 60 cm is considered intimate, while in others it is equal to the length of the arm from the tips of the fingers to the elbow.
In the intimate area, it is most convenient to communicate using body language, facial expressions, touches and gestures. When the intimate zone of people who are not close to you is invaded, a subconscious desire arises to move away from the interlocutor.
People who have problems with socialization do not like to be in large crowds of people, where contact and constant violations of the usual distance are inevitable. Such people often try to increase their personal space by any means: buying out neighboring seats in cinemas and transport, placing things around them that do not allow anyone to come closer than the person is comfortable.
An individual with a tendency toward aggression also tries to increase his intimate zone, but does this by reducing the personal field of his interlocutor. Such people approach excessively, spread their legs wide, wave their arms, and try to hover over the person they are talking to. There is an assumption that aggressiveness is a consequence of the fact that a person is endowed with a wide intimate space and perceives intrusion into it as a danger.
Knowing the laws of proxemics, you can identify the attitude of others towards you. To do this, you just need to carefully observe the distance they try to maintain. The closer they are physically, the closer they will be mentally. If there is a clear desire to distance oneself, a person is most likely not ready to communicate openly.
Personal
Personal distance is typical for business and friendly communication, its size is from 0.5 to 1.2 meters. At this distance, people communicate with business partners, friends, colleagues and not too close relatives.
People's personal space may vary depending on their type of nervous activity, age, gender and character. Sanguine and choleric people tend to shorten the distance with the interlocutor, melancholic and phlegmatic people tend to stay a little further from those with whom they are talking. People who feel defenseless, such as children and the elderly, try to be closer to the interlocutor. More independent and confident individuals respect the personal boundaries of others and do not get too close. The distance between women is often shorter than between men or representatives of different sexes.
Social
Social distance is 1.2–3.7 meters. This distance is usually maintained when communicating between strangers and business partners who are distant in status.
Public
This is a distance intended for public speaking. Its size depends on the size of the room in which the speaker is located. In small audiences this can be 3.5–7.5 meters, at large events - at a concert or in a theater, the distance between the speaker and the audience can be more than 7.5 meters. Communication at such a distance does not imply personal acquaintance of the interlocutors with each other; usually only the one who is going to speak introduces himself.
Introduction
Business relationships are a complex, multifaceted process of developing contacts between people in the professional sphere. Its participants act in official capacities and are focused on achieving goals and specific tasks. A specific feature of this process is regulation, i.e. subordination to established restrictions that are determined by national and cultural traditions and professional ethical principles. A prerequisite in the process of business relations is communication between people at a certain distance; I will consider the ethics of business relations using the example of communication at various types of distance, because With competent communication and the ability to win over your interlocutor, the final result also depends.
Business relationships are closely related to communication, the interaction of production activities - this is the most widespread type of social communication. It represents the sphere of commercial and administrative-legal, economic-legal and diplomatic relations.
New economic and social conditions encouraged the broad masses of the population to engage in commercial and organizational activities. This circumstance has brought to the fore the need to teach linguistic forms of business communication, the need to increase the ethical competence of persons entering into social and legal relations and guiding the actions of people. In market conditions, ethical competence becomes an indispensable component of general professional training for managers, municipal employees, assistants, and managers at all levels and includes the determination of communication distances.
The topic I have chosen is relevant because the problem of distance in business communication has a significant place in business communication. Setting a distance between business partners is the foundation on which the effectiveness of communication depends! The reason for attention to these issues is primarily related to the economic damage that unethical behavior of employees and business partners causes to the company.
Spatial arrangement
If we talk about the spatial positions of people, then one example of proxemics can be the arrangement of people at the table. Experts distinguish 4 types of positions of interlocutors at the table relative to each other:
- Angular. People sit on both sides of one corner of the table, separated only by its diagonal. This is how close people usually communicate - relatives, spouses, close friends. This position allows them to communicate using not only speech, but also sign language and touch. Sitting in this position, people feel comfortable, but unlike other positions, they do not geographically divide the table into “their” and “their” parts.
- Business. This position is on one side of the table. With this position, it is convenient for partners to discuss business issues and study documents. In addition, this arrangement allows the relationship to be quite trusting in business terms.
- Competitive and defensive. This is a position where the interlocutors sit opposite each other on opposite sides of the table. It is considered classic in business negotiations and in the case when there is a conversation between people who need to agree on something on which they have opposing points of view.
- Independent. This is an arrangement that demonstrates people's disinterest in communicating with each other. This position is taken, for example, by people who sit down on a bench in a park or in a cafe at a table with a stranger. They try to be as far away from each other as possible, trying to demonstrate their independence from whoever is nearby.
How does the violation of these distances affect a person?
Violation of spatial boundaries occurs quite often - for example, in public transport or an elevator, when strangers are forced to stand very close and sometimes touch each other.
At the same time, the reaction is almost always the same - people tend to express a minimum of emotions and avoid eye contact.
In an elevator, people look at the floor indicator, and in public transport - at the windows, while everyone makes a minimum of movements.
This is due to the fact that even a forced violation by another person of the permissible boundaries of communication leads to discomfort. Invasion of personal space is unconsciously perceived as a threat.
The heart rate and blood pressure increase, blood rushes to the head - the body instinctively prepares to protect itself from an intruder of personal territory.
Incorrect violation of distance during communication can lead to rejection by the interlocutor . If you allow yourself to touch a new acquaintance a few minutes after meeting him, he may view this as an invasion of his personal space and henceforth try to avoid you.
As a result, this can hinder the building of trusting relationships not only in the business sphere, but also in the personal sphere.
Personal zones in different cultures
A large number of scientists have been studying the characteristics of different cultures; E. Hall also considered this issue. He observed, among other things, the proxemics of different peoples. Here are some of the conclusions he came to:
- Japanese residents are most sensitive to distances between people and other objects;
- representatives of Europe and North America try to clearly divide the space of the premises with skirting boards and edgings, and place furniture only along the walls;
- residents of China and Japan prefer rooms with sliding walls to be able to increase or decrease the size of the space depending on the purpose of communication and the situation;
- the Japanese perceive the touching of their interlocutors to each other as a sign of disrespect, and the Arabs - as a sign of sympathy;
- Brazilians like to communicate over short distances, so they make Americans feel uncomfortable, who often strive for wider personal boundaries;
- Russians prefer a shorter social distance between interlocutors than Americans, but a longer distance than Latin Americans.
How to protect yourself from crowding stress?
To reduce stress levels, psychologists recommend distancing yourself from an unpleasant situation. How to do it? It turns out that you don’t even need to work hard. The fact is that our psyche can independently switch us.
Each person has their own defensive reactions. Remember how we react when we see an unpleasant picture - we close our eyes and turn away. This will happen in a crowded subway car - we will want to close our eyes. If the sounds bother you, you will want to wear headphones. You can also take a closed pose (cross your arms and legs). In this state, a person almost does not perceive incoming information and is protected from external influences. And that means from stress.
Our psyche adapts to any stimuli and guides us itself. Perhaps you have noticed that when you find yourself in a crowded space, a hand with a phone or tablet (depending on what you are holding in your hand) involuntarily rises in front of your body. Thus, any object in your hand that you hold in front of you reduces the level of tension.
Listening to music and reading in crowded transport also help reduce the level of emotional stress.
Thus, to prevent crowding stress, you need:
- Having a personal space where you can have privacy.
- Self-regulation skills (ability to calm yourself, switch attention);
- Time and opportunity to switch. If you feel that people have become annoying, then you should not go to a noisy event or to a large store, but take a walk alone, be with your thoughts and feelings. Or agree with your household so that, for example, once a week you will not be disturbed (for a day or several hours).
