Transcript Document 7668849

Intercultural Study of
Personal Space
by Linh Bui & Julielynn Wong
ISU 2002, Pomona
Personal space is an innate element
of all human beings but the length,
the thickness and the characteristics
of that space will vary according to
the culture.
ISU 2002, Pomona
4 dimensions of personal space
• Intimate distance: It corresponds to a high level of intimacy
between 2 persons. It includes the touching.
[range: 0 cm and 50 cm]
• Personal distance: It is the distance between 2 persons who
knows each other with a relative intimacy, as friends, brothers
and sisters.
[range: 50 cm to 1.30 m]
• Social distance: It corresponds to a more superficial and
impersonal form of communication, or business relation.
Ex: co-workers, boss, social gathering, public event.
[range: 1.30 m to 2.30 m; more formal : 2.3 - 4 m]
• Public distance: There is no intimacy with the speakers.
[range: 4 m to 8.25 m in a formal setting]
Important public figures and famous artists the security zone
ISU 2002, Pomona
is at a minimum of 10 meters.
Cultural Groups within Personal
Distance Dimension (0.50 – 1.3 m)
Estonia (N = 1)
100
90
80
70
Average
60
Diagonal
50
Distance (in
40
cm)
30
20
10
0
Norway (N = 2)
South Africa (N = 1)
Vietnam (N = 1)
English Canada (N = 4)
Spain (N = 2)
Russia (N = 1)
U.K. (N = 5)
ISU 2002, Pomona
Cultural Groups within Personal
Distance Dimension (0.50 – 1.3 m)
115
Portugal (N = 1)
110
Belgium (N = 3)
Ireland (N = 1)
Average 105
Diagonal
100
Distance (in
cm)
95
Nigeria (N = 1)
Croatia (N = 1)
Denmark (N = 2)
90
Italy (N = 5)
85
Sweden (N = 1)
ISU 2002, Pomona
Cultural Groups within Social
Distance Dimension (1.3 - 4 m)
Germany (N = 3)
300
Austria (N = 6)
250
Chile (N = 1)
Average 200
Diagonal
150
Distance (in
100
cm)
French Canada (N = 8)
U.S.A. (N = 8)
France (N = 9)
China (N = 1)
50
Japan (N = 6)
0
Netherlands (N = 2)
ISU 2002, Pomona
Cultural Groups within and above
Public Distance Dimension
(4 – 8.25 m)
1000
900
800
Average
700
600
Diagonal
500
Distance (in 400
cm)
300
200
100
0
Finland (N = 1)
Bangledesh (N = 1)
ISU 2002, Pomona
References
• Hall, Edward, T. (1959). The Silent
Language. Anchor Books Ed.: New York. 217
p.
• Hall, Edward, T. (1966). The Hidden
Dimension: man’s use of space in public and
private. Bodley Head: London, 201 p.
• Thanks to all the students and staff who
participated in the study.
ISU 2002, Pomona