During Golden Globe Award Ceremony of 2016, an unusual incident happened. After her name being as a receiver of award, Lady Gaga started walking towards stage. While making her way through audience, she briefly brushed off behind chair on which Leonardo DiCaprio was sitting. While reacting to same quite unconsciously, the unique facial expression he gave away made headlines. Why he would have done it after all? Let's find out very reason behind same.
In last two articles, we have seen that how clustering and congruence are crucial for reading body language. Now let's move on towards understanding the importance of interpersonal distance. The science of interpersonal distance is called as PROXEMICS. Most of us don’t realize that interpersonal distance plays a great role in and also affects on communication, rapport, comfort level and relationship. So let's take an example from real life so it would make sense clearly.

It's an usual day in company and you start working on routine tasks. Suddenly, team leader informs you that few newly recruited members are joining your team. You are asked to gather at some place for getting formally introduced with them face to face. Until this moment both parties might not have seen each other so little amount of nervousness coupled with excitement lurks inside everyone's mind. While looking at each other, both parties smile nervously but avoid prolong eye contact except those who develop feelings of attraction instantaneously. Formal hand shake, mutual introduction and exchange few words take place by keeping socially accepted distance from each other.

Some days pass and regular interactions start taking place between you and new joiners. Apart of work, everybody starts taking, sharing and complementing with each other. It gives opportunity for judging and knowing each other consciously or unconsciously. We naturally tend to figure out mutual strengths, weaknesses, likes and dislikes. Also, it's not necessary that every member of team become close companion of every other senior. Some personal reservations, threats or complexes motivate us to form bond with more like minded persons.

Doesn't it appear like a miracle? Gradual shrinking of interpersonal space and development of new relationship! Why we tend to stay away from new people in the beginning and get closer gradually (or in worst case - drift away)? Certainly, it's worth interesting to know.
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Too close? |
Dr. Albert Meharabian, the leading proxemist has defined four different zones around our body. Each zone is a circular area in which we let other to enter or stay depending upon kind of relationship we're seeking or have with them.
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Different zones of proxemics (Interpersonal Distance) |
1) Intimate Zone (from 6 to 18 inches): This is the zone a person guards as individual property. Only romantic partner, close friends and relatives are allowed to enter in it.
2) Personal Zone (from 18 to 48 inches): This is the distance we keep from others during friendly interactions, social gatherings or parties.
3) Social Zone (from 4 to 12 feet): This is the distance we keep from strangers or persons with little acquaintance.
4) Public Zone (above 12 feet): This is the comfortable distance we maintain while interacting or addressing to large group of people.
Above are approximate distances with which Dr. Meharabian put up his theory but radius of each zone may vary culture, society or geography wise.
Related Articles:
1) Courtship and Dance 2) Cabin of chief 3) Making true friends 4) Positive Body Language 5) Secret of Metropolitan nervousness 6) Elevator Etiquettes 7) Context 8) Clusters 9) Congruence 10) Context 11) Micro Expressions 12) Para Language 13) Common Postures 14) Common Hand Gestures 15) Inside Interrogation Room 16) Basic Body Clues
Beware of the typos in the first paragraph. Also, the 3rd and 4th should be the social and public zones respectively.
ReplyDeleteThank you anyway for the introduction on Proxemics with a few examples.
Racial dynamics and messages in the “Too close?” image need to be addressed.
ReplyDelete