The reading I found most interesting this week in Chapter 6
was Table 5.3, “Interaction Zones for Most Americans”. It made me laugh because I am very big on
personal space and people getting too close when talking. I definitely save Intimate Distance for close
loved ones and prefer Personal Distance when engaging in most
conversations. I think Social Distance
is especially important in professional situations at the workplace. Often I get people who use Intimate Distance
in the workplace and I feel very uncomfortable!
Obviously public distance is for larger scale audiences, which I often
encounter at concerts I go to. I wouldn’t
mind having more of a Personal Distance eye view though! I also enjoyed learning about crowding, when
your personal space is invaded. It
really defined how I feel when people get to close that I don’t know well. I feel the anxiety and claustrophobia and
desperately look for an escape route. I
probably use Body Blocking as well to avoid any physical contact between this
person!
Hey Missy,
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you on receiving intimate space in the workplace and how dreadful ang uncomfortable it can be! When a customer peers over the counter so close you can smell their beath, or just so close you can see every outlining detail in their face, it really becomes bothersome. Sometime I lose my concentration and focus because my own personal space becomes bombarded with a stranger! I also agree with your anxiety feeling. For example, crowded elevators tend to freak me out, maybe it's the germs and breathing situation, but being close to others I am not familiar with can be a pet peeve.
Hazel
Agreed missy! I too love my personal space and I only feel like my family and friends should be close to me when speaking. Social distance is very important in a work place, especially when people may think that you’re gossiping about someone or something. I work in a restaurant so my social distance is very important especially with my guests and coworkers. When there are people who invade my personal space sometimes I just have to tell them exactly how I feel. I hate to be rude, but it is very important to me for people to understand that there are personal lines I do not cross and that’s my space! =]
ReplyDeleteHi Missy,
ReplyDeleteI have two young children, and I am constantly yelling at them to stay out of peoples personal bubbles. I totally agree with you in the feelings of claustrophobia when my bubble is invaded. I only hope that if I instill the personal space rule in their brains now that it will stick with them throughout their life. A persons bubble is as important to them as their favorite possession. Their bubble may even be their favorite possession lol. We all hate the uncomfortable feeling we get when our bubble is invaded, even if it is from a child. Those of us who have children usually dismiss it, but that does not mean it is not bothersome.