ProxemicsProxemics

The Semiotics of SpaceThe Semiotics of Space

Edward T. HallEdward T. Hall

Hall coined the term in 1963Hall coined the term in 1963 Proxemics is the study of the codes Proxemics is the study of the codes

that define space and territory in that define space and territory in human social relationshuman social relations

Distance between individuals, Distance between individuals, territoriality, intimacy gradients, territoriality, intimacy gradients, public versus private spaces, sacred public versus private spaces, sacred places, and so on come under the places, and so on come under the rubric of proxemics rubric of proxemics

ProxemesProxemes Intimate: 0 - 18 inchesIntimate: 0 - 18 inches

– Emotionally charged bubble reserved for family, Emotionally charged bubble reserved for family, friends, loversfriends, lovers

Personal: 1.5 - 4 feetPersonal: 1.5 - 4 feet– Minimum comfort zone between non-touching Minimum comfort zone between non-touching

individuals; within reach for handshakes; individuals; within reach for handshakes; informal distance between friendsinformal distance between friends

Social: 4 – 12 feetSocial: 4 – 12 feet– Non-threatening, non-involving; for formal Non-threatening, non-involving; for formal

discourse and business; minimum distance discourse and business; minimum distance within which one can go about their business within which one can go about their business without seeming rude to others without seeming rude to others

Public: 12 feet and beyondPublic: 12 feet and beyond– Evasive or defensive action possible at this Evasive or defensive action possible at this

distance; communication at this distance highly distance; communication at this distance highly structured, e.g., lecture, performancestructured, e.g., lecture, performance

Proxemics and CultureProxemics and Culture Of course, these codes depend on culture and Of course, these codes depend on culture and

history.history. In North American culture over the last In North American culture over the last

hundred years, there has been both a hundred years, there has been both a decrease in the size of the intimate and decrease in the size of the intimate and personal proxeme and an expansion in the personal proxeme and an expansion in the social and personal proxeme.social and personal proxeme.

In other words, in many cases people demand In other words, in many cases people demand much more space between themselves and much more space between themselves and non-intimates while simultaneously requiring non-intimates while simultaneously requiring less distance between friends, family less distance between friends, family members, and other intimates.members, and other intimates.

Botticelli, Sandro

The Cestello Annunciationc. 1489

Tempera on panel 150 x 156 cm Uffizi, Florence

Van Eyck, Jan The Annunciation c. 1435

Oil on canvas93 x 37 cmNational Gallery of Art, Washington

John Singleton Copley Colonel William Fitch and His Sisters Sarah and Ann Fitch, 1800/1801

TouchTouch

Touch is another feature of proxemic Touch is another feature of proxemic analysis.analysis.

In Western culture touch is kept at a In Western culture touch is kept at a minimum in public places.minimum in public places.

Mothers tend to touch their sons more on Mothers tend to touch their sons more on their chest and shoulders, their daughters their chest and shoulders, their daughters on the arms and head.on the arms and head.

In Japanese culture there is a great deal of In Japanese culture there is a great deal of tactile communication in childhood but tactile communication in childhood but little after adolescence.little after adolescence.

                                                                                                

William Eggleston. William Eggleston. Sumner, Mississippi, Sumner, Mississippi, Cassidy Bayou in the background.Cassidy Bayou in the background.

1969-70.1969-70.

You be the expert!You be the expert!

What proxemic codes govern:What proxemic codes govern: A handshake between a man and a woman?A handshake between a man and a woman? Between a man and a man?Between a man and a man? A party at an undergraduate’s apartment?A party at an undergraduate’s apartment? A party at your grandparent’s? A party at your grandparent’s? A first meeting with a prospective employer?A first meeting with a prospective employer? A solitary study session at a big table in the A solitary study session at a big table in the

library?library?

The Gaze The Gaze

Related to proxemics in that the gaze also Related to proxemics in that the gaze also has implications for emotional distance and has implications for emotional distance and intimacy.intimacy.

Frequency, duration, and direction of gaze Frequency, duration, and direction of gaze has social consequences.has social consequences.

Phatic function: for initiation and Phatic function: for initiation and maintenance of communication.maintenance of communication.– Looking away signals a desire to keep speaking.Looking away signals a desire to keep speaking.– Staring indicates a desire for the other to take a Staring indicates a desire for the other to take a

turn.turn.

The Gaze con’tThe Gaze con’t

Expressive function: the eyes (more Expressive function: the eyes (more correctly, the muscles and tissue around correctly, the muscles and tissue around the eyes) can signal emotion.the eyes) can signal emotion.

Conative function: When the message is Conative function: When the message is focused on the receiver, the gaze of the focused on the receiver, the gaze of the sender can indicate levels of intimacy, sender can indicate levels of intimacy, hostility, and so on, e.g., “if looks could hostility, and so on, e.g., “if looks could kill” .kill” .

Can also register disdain, aloofness, or low Can also register disdain, aloofness, or low solidarity towards the receiver if the gaze solidarity towards the receiver if the gaze is withdrawn. is withdrawn.