Invasion of Personal Space in Same Gender and Opposing Gender Groups

Essay by RNunes9864University, Bachelor'sA+, May 2006

download word file, 14 pages 5.0


Research studies indicate that women or more apt to have a positive reaction to an invasion of their personal space in a social setting as oppose to men. Some men and women possessing more territorial instincts, view space invasion as a direct challenge to what they consider to belong to them and when violated will issue a negative response. This study will show that males and females will react positively on a consistent basis when the invasion is performed by an opposing gender person or group. Observations of college students during lunch hours inside a cafeteria provided a variety of gender, culture, and social groups. These groups were observed with an emphasis on gender and their subsequent reactions to invasions.

Invasion of Personal Space in Opposing Gender and Gender Groups

Interpersonal distance can be defined as a zone or area of space surrounding an individual that is considered to "belong" to that individual.

The variation of this zone is related to various factors such as culture, social status, personality, age and gender. The amount of distance individuals prefer is also affected by the nature of the relationship between the two parties. When Edward T. Hall first introduced his theory on interpersonal space it was a relatively new science in the world of communication. For the basis of his theory he gathered from his life's education in Anthropology where he observed the critical role that space and territory play in a variety of cultures. He was able to show the relationship between our own personal distance and the non-verbal communication we display when that distance is breeched. Hall called the study of interpersonal distance, proxemics. In The Hidden Dimension, Hall (1963) describes the four zones used by American adults interacting with one another and argued that the regularity of distances...