Nonverbal communication
Space and status
Territory or space is another important element in nonverbal behaviour. Edward Hall (1959, 1966, 1976) was the first one to study proxemics – the area of spatial communication. He distinguished four basic distances (with two additional subgroups) which are kept by people in different situations.
The four types of “distance” which people use to communicate on a face-to-face basis are:
a) Personal space – Intimate distance can be divided into two phases:
-
close phase (actual contact or touching): happens very often among close friends, family members and lovers. The picture of a new born baby and the mother is a symbol of close phase relations
-
far phase (up to 1/2 m): still close enough; sometimes can happen to strangers e.g. in a lift or train during rush hours.
b) Personal distance: distance in informal situations when one is surrounded by friends and relatives:
- close phase (1/2–3/4 m): happens in informal relations with your friends e.g. in a pub
- far phase (3/4–1 1/4 m): informal distance between friends and colleagues.
c) Social distance: distance at work, usually formal between colleagues and strangers. The close and far phases distances depend on the layout of the room or the way chairs are pre-arranged (conference rooms, academic lecture room, etc.)
- close phase (1 1/4–2 m)
- far phase (2–4 m)
d) Public distance: important in public world, e.g. at political events, concerts, open lectures, during speeches given by presidents and other VIPs:
- close phase (4–8 m)
- far phase (8 m or more)