[Personal space as a function of eye-contact and spatial arrangements of a group].
Two experiments were conducted on personal space as a function of eye-contact (Exp. I) and spatial arrangements of a group(Exp. II). In experiment I, interpersonal distances were measured using 30 female students in three eye-contact conditions in which subjects wore semi-dark sun-glasses, mirror glasses or no glasses. In experiment II, thirty-six female students served as subjects, and three subjects formed a group and stood abreast (arrangement A), then the middle person took one step forward or backward (B, C) against an approaching male stranger. The stop-distance technique was used for both experiments. (1) As the intensity of eye-contact was reduced, smaller personal space was required for subjects to feel comfortable. (2) Significantly larger space was required for subjects who stood outside (A, B) of group-shared space than inside (C).
Yoshida
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F
Department of Psychology, Taisho University, Tokyo.
Hori
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H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006126:Group Processes; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010550:Personal Space; D012929:Psychological Distance; D013037:Spatial Behavior