SPATIAL SEPARATION and BEHAVIOUR

 Post --by Gautam Shah 

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Spatial distancing or separation is very important factor that determines the relationships we allow to flourish and sustain in a Space. Other factors include our capacity of sensorial perception, psychological and biological needs. Spatial distancing is determined by the reach tools that we can exploit for a situation. Strength of voice transmission determines how one should be heard or not. In many cultures the gender separation is the reach determinant. There are public spaces where abstract barricades indicate the desired separation. Queues get formed as the visual connection to the destination and shaped by the local territorial conditions. In large public spaces, the occupation is related as a balanced reach between the exit and the destined focus.   

  Hall (1959) has stipulated that spatial separation also serves an expansive function. He made a study of the Spatial relations that seem appropriate to various kinds of interactions. They vary with intimacy, and depend on the possibility of eye contact. These distances vary with the culture.

One can easily distinguish strangers from friends in an airport lounge. Strangers will keep a distance, taking alternate seats wherever possible. Friends tend to form clots, and families even pile one on the top of another. Total strangers will comfortably seat themselves only inches apart if the seats are back to back, but friends and the members of the family never arrange themselves in this way. Eye contact invites interaction and so is sought to the degree that intimacy already exists. (Hall E. T. 1959 The silent language).

Hall argues that there are spatial zones appropriate to various types of interactions. Though distances through virtual communication technology mediated interactions are likely to be different. Hall has also shown the cultural variations that South American needs much closer distance for impersonal information, than a North American desire or is accustomed to. 

Very close            75 to 150mm           Soft whisper, top secret

Close                  200 to 300mm         Audible whispers, very confidential

Near                   300 to 500mm         Soft voice, confidential

Neutral               500 to 900mm         Soft voice, low volume, personal subject matter

Neutral               1300 to 1500mm     Full voice, impersonal information

Public                 1700 to 2500mm     Slightly over-loud, information for others to hear

Across room       2500 to 6000mm     Loud voice, talking to a group

Hailing privately   6000 to 7500 mm   Indoors, Loud voice departures

Hailing public      30.00 mts                Outdoors, Loud voice shouting, departures and calls 

Impersonal discussion, take place at 1200 to 1500 mm; cross the inner boundary of this zone and one’s interlocutor will retreat; cross the outer boundary and will advance or subtly change the manner in which to behave adopting the pattern appropriate to the new distance. One can move from impersonal discussion to personal matter by reducing the distance, or to a non personal information exchange by increasing the distance. TV anchors do the distance trick on their show. For an intimate question the anchor pushes forward own body (Larry King of CNN), but as soon as the question sinks in with the guest, the anchor withdraws not just to the nominal position but little further backward. These distancing movements allow the guest to deliver the answer more objectively and the camera frames the guest alone for such a ‘heroic effort’. However, a host may intimidate the guest by doing exactly opposite of this.

 Spatial Distancing is natural tool for assuring safety and security. It helps communication and expression. First contact an infant develops is to bring everything including hand, feet and toys to the mouth, as the feed is important. But gradually the child begins to discriminate the distances. A sick or old person needs an assurance that presence of others, or support walls, etc. are available at correct distance and when needed. Similarly normal people learn to ignore the mechanisms of distancing.