Don't stand so close to me: the effects fo self-construal in interpersonal closeness.
Three studies investigated the effects of self-construal activation on behavior conducive to interpersonal proximity. Study 1 revealed that compared with control participants, participants who were primed with the independent (or personal) self sat further away from where they anticipated another person would sit in a waiting room. Results of Study 2 indicated that participants primed with the interdependent (or social) self sat closer to the anticipated other person than did those primed with the independent self. Finally, Study 3 used the chronic self-construal of participants to predict the seating distance in dyadic settings. Results showed that greater independence of participants' self-construals was associated with greater spatial distance during the interaction. Together, the studies provide clear evidence that self-construal activation automatically influences interpersonal behavior as reflected in the actual distance between the self and others. Results are discussed in terms of the functions and motives connected to self-construals.
Holland
Rob W
RW
Department of Social Psychology, University of Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. r.holland@psych.kun.nl
Roeder
Ute-Regina
UR
van Baaren
Rick B
RB
Brandt
Aafje C
AC
Hannover
Bettina
B
D001290:Attitude; D004215:Distance Perception; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D013037:Spatial Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires