Turns out you can put a number on intense interpersonal discomfort. Dubbed "proxemics" by an anthropologist in the Sixties, the study of personal space isn't just about understanding why people crave more elbow room. Our impulse to create a personal no-go zone has deep roots.
The Darwin Dance
Irritated when a not-so-special someone gets uncomfortably close? The reaction is an adaptive defense mechanism. A little distance lets you prepare a karate chop for potential attackers and keeps germy neighbors from attacking you with their colds.
Prepare for Battle
Aggressive men like more personal space, overcompensating for perceived threats when establishing protective zones around their bodies.
Space Invasion
To reduce "culture-related strains" on an already tight ship, astronauts and cosmonauts are urged to pay special attention to personal space differences in orbit, as Russians are more used to working in close physical proximity.
Take a Number
Eighteen inches is intimate, four feet is reserved for good friends, and anything beyond that is for mere strangers and acquaintances, according to anthropologist Edward T. Hall.
