In an environment of air, water
and land, with the exosphere as ceiling of the Earth’s atmosphere, how much
space must one person normally take? What distance should there be between you
and the next person to constitute personal space?
Oxford Dictionaries define personal
space as: the physical space immediately surrounding someone, into which any
encroachment feels threatening to or uncomfortable for them. Mosby’s Medical
Dictionary defines personal space thus: the area surrounding an individual that
is perceived by the individual as private, who may regard movement into the
space by another person as intrusive. Personal space boundaries vary somewhat
in different cultures, but in general they are regarded as a distance of about 1
meter (3 feet) around the individual.
In terms of distance, Proxemics
(it is the study about how humans use space) divides interpersonal space into
four areas. The first two constitute personal space the subject of focus:
Intimate
Personal
Social
Public
INTIMATE
In intimate space the distance
between you and the other person is, as it were set at under 6 inches or 15cm
when close, and 6 inches to 18 inches or 15cm to 46cm when far.
Persons who fall within this
space are those who are very close to the object of contact. They are parents,
siblings, cousins, boyfriends, girlfriends, nieces, nephews, very close friends,
husbands, wives etc. Within this space contact activities taking place include
embrace (as in welcoming your little sibling back home from school), sharing a
bed or mat with your parent, sibling or niece, bathing together in a bath,
kissing one’s lover, caressing one’s lover, having sex, holding a baby in your
bosom, breastfeeding your baby, packing your baby aback etc.
Intimate space are entered into
in public spaces. In salons when hair is being treated and scalp touched, the
intimate space of the one whose hair is being treated is entered. When you go
to a massage parlor to get massaged, a lotion being applied to your naked body
is done within your intimate space or personal space since intimate space is a
component of personal space. People kiss in public parks.
Even outside of personal space
distance intimate space could be entered. I live here in Ghana, West Africa, on
the 3ʳᵈ Otswe Street, South La Estates in the La Dadekotopon Municipality,
sharing border with Accra Metropolis to the west. I take a cell phone and talk
with a friend in the United States of America. The very voice of my friend from
across the Atlantic Ocean hits me in the ear, right away as his. My ear
registers immediate recognition. Should the technical definition of personal
space not to be relooked at? Currently, the telenovela getting attention in
urban Ghana is Power and Passion. A telenovela is a Mexican soap opera.
Normally in movies for that matter dramas, themes surround good guys versus bad
guys. Viewers normally connect emotionally with the good guys against the bad
guys. Consequently, both good emotions for the good guys, and bad emotions against
the bad guys enter the intimate space of viewers.
PERSONAL
In personal space the
interpersonal distance is set at 1.5 feet to 2.5 feet (46cm to 76cm) when
close, and 2.5 feet to 4 feet (76cm to 122cm) when far.
Persons normally sharing this
area are colleagues, neighbors, friends, team mates etc.
Activities that take place within
this space are conversations, discussions etc. Intimate space being mobile,
overlap other personal spaces. Wherever you go you carry your personal space
with you. For example if you want to explain something to a classmate you go to
their desk stand close by them, sometimes with bodies touching, to do the
explanation. In school sports like rugby in particular, personal spaces, and
indeed intimate spaces interact and overlap. During Sunday service when
students sit together in a pew there is interaction and overlap of personal
spaces.
SOCIAL
In social space the interpersonal
distance is set at 4 feet to 7 feet (1.2 meters to 2.1 meters) when close, and 7
feet to 12 feet (2.1 meters to 3.7 meters) when far.
PUBLIC
In public space the interpersonal
distance is set at 12 feet to 25 feet (3.7 meters to 7.6 meters) when close,
and 25 feet (7.6 meters) or more when far.
SUMMARY
Personal space is the area
immediately surrounding a person regarded as a private territory.
Personal space has two
components, intimate and personal.
There is overlap and interaction
between personal spaces, private as they are, not necessarily amounting to
violation.
PARTING SHOT
Personal space is just a
microcosm of Space. Intimate space is carved out of personal space, personal
space in turn is carved out of social space, social space in turn is carved out
of public space, public space in turn is carved out of Earth’s space or natural
environment, the Earth’s space in turn is carved out planetary space, planetary
space in turn is carved out of galactic space, and galactic space in turn is
carved out of the Universe.
The cleanliness and balance of
the natural environment starts with how you manage your personal space.
Natural Environment! .......... Clean and Balanced!
Reference:
http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Personal+space
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