When the distance does not exceed 45 centimeters, in proxemics we speak of "intimate space."
Proxemics is a branch of semiotics that is dedicated to studying how space is organized in linguistic communication . It is about the analysis of the spatial relationships between human beings and between people and things during an interaction , considering the body distance and the posture adopted.
Perception and use of space
It can be said that proxemics, therefore, investigates how space , both personal and social, is perceived and used. In every talk, a framework is established that depends on a system of restrictions linked to social group, age and gender, for example, in which the distribution of space reflects certain meanings.
It is important to keep in mind that the ability to communicate transcends the linguistic ability given by understanding a language . Beyond individual conditions, there are social and cultural norms linked to space that can limit these competencies.
On the other hand, we must not forget that communication is verbal (the signs that are transmitted through speech) and non-verbal (gestures, body posture, etc.). Proxemics, determined by how the body is used in relation to space, is part of non-verbal communication.
Proxemic distances
There are different proxemic distances. When two people interact at a distance of up to 45 centimeters , an intimate space is created that allows physical contact, as occurs in conversations between members of a couple, family members or very close friends. If the separation between speakers is between 46 and 120 centimeters , it refers to a personal distance , common between not-so-close friends or co-workers.
The social or consultative distance , between 121 and 360 centimeters , appears between strange individuals or those who have little knowledge of each other. Finally, proxemics recognizes a public distance of more than 361 centimeters that appears in lectures , speeches, or similar interactions.
Proxemic elements
According to the theory of the North American intercultural researcher and anthropologist Edward Twitchell Hall Jr. , there are three types of elements that we can distinguish in proxemics. These serve so that individuals can structure their spaces and relate to their respective cultural environments. Firstly we have the fixed elements , which refer to the specific configurations of each culture as well as those linked to the design of the environment.
Time and place affect the way people perceive fixed elements. Similarly, if we take a look at the way the space is designed we can understand how a particular culture functions and is organized at the time point of observation. We also have semi-fixed elements , thanks to which it is possible for individuals to influence the interaction with others using the environment.
“Personal distance” is more common among co-workers, with a maximum of 120 centimeters.
The British psychiatrist Humphry Fortescue Osmond proposed two concepts that serve to define two extreme spatial arrangements: sociofugal space , with a tendency to keep people isolated, generates a feeling of loneliness (some common examples are libraries and hospitals); The sociopetal space , on the other hand, does open the doors to interaction. Once again, culture determines the differences between these two spaces.
The third group is dynamic elements , which focus on the way in which people use the fixed and semi-fixed elements of proxemics. In other words, the focus in this case is on the influence we have on communication with others every time we make variations in the elements of the space. It is worth mentioning that some of the principles on which Hall relied belong to one proposed for animal communication by Konrad Lorenz , Thomas Henry Huxley and other ethologists.