Proxemics Personal Proxemics in Some Thesis

In fact, it was hardly anything personal. As I observed the behavior of others, I found that staring seemed to be some urban cultural attribute, as though the close proximity into which we'd all been forced had somehow also diminished the invisible barriers restricting inappropriate eye contact.

Beyond that, there are many who have drawn the same deduction in terms of physical space. For my purposes, a stranger who does not have any personal goal or reasonable aim in terms of engaging me directly should not be closer than three feet away. And when this does occur in a public space due to the largeness and density of a crowd, it is understood that all individuals are intended upon making greater distance between themselves as soon as the opportunity arises.

I have also gained an appreciation for the reality that certain decisions strip us of our rights to personal or private space such as the attendance of a big event. I did have the opportunity to attend a football game this week. Naturally, the crowd was very large, the seats tightly backed and the bathroom a long line of far too closely packed individuals.This tried my comfort, but I was also comforted by the understanding that individuals had no intent demonstrated in their closeness but that we were all in a scenario were space was too scarce to achieve such preferences.

When engaged in a conversation with a stranger, I feel arm's length is an appropriate distance. Likewise, anything greater than ten feet becomes irrational and counterproductive to the purpose of having a conversation. These tend to be personal sensibilities that are consistent with the modes of engagement evident in our broader culture.

Works Cited:

Rosenbloom, S. (2006). In Certain Circles, Two Is a Crowd. The New York Times. Online at http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/16/fashion/16space.html?ex=1321333200&en=2d57a58460696fe0&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss.....