Implied Threat and the Territorial Factor in Personal Space

Abstract

Body territory may be a useful concept when personal space is studied under conditions of threat. It is predicted that, under conditions implying physical threat, defense of body territory will be greatest in the condition of male-to-male movement, that the male object-person will be a greater source of threat than the female object-person, and that anxiety will be associated with greater intervening distances for both sexes. Each S (male or female) approached and was approached by his respective object-person (male or female), providing measures of invading and being invaded behaviors. The major findings were: Ss tended to stay farther from the male than the female object-person; males showed the strongest sex-of-object effect, with approach toward the female object being more influential than avoidance of the male object; female Ss were more influenced by anxiety; and male Ss were most influenced by degree of heterosexuality. It was concluded that partial support was evidenced for what could be called a body territorial factor in human space behavior.

Body Height, Position, and Sex as Determinants of Personal Space

“…Since sex has been found to be a factor in personal space (2,4), it is believed that the sex factor was not as strong in this particular study because of the experimental manipulations. In the present study there were no references to the subjects about sex or attractiveness, and this, coupled with the fact that the 0 s made no effort to be particularly sexually appealing, attenuated the sex variable.…”

“…By contrast, Dosey and Meisels (4) told their subjects that they were to approach an object person who would evaluate their physical attractiveness. Bailey et al (2) chose their object persons on the basis of physical attractiveness and thereby accentuated the sex variable.…”

“…It is hypothesized that ( a ) all subjects will approach closer to a short object person than to a tall object person, ( 6 ) all subjects will approach closer to an object person when he is sitting than when he is standing, (c) tall subjects will approach closer to the standing tall object person than will short subjects, ( d ) female subjects will not differ from males in approach to the short object person, but will maintain greater distances than males from the tall object person because of the greater threat response of females in a personal space situation (2,5,9,13).…”

Tailing Reclamation= Oasis = Closure

“…The reason for this is that 90% vegetative cover for this part of Michigan is forest land composed of conifer and hardwoods ranging in age up to 250 + years [USDA 1960, Shetron 2000. Reclamation of tailing basins in this part of Michigan will represent an "OASIS" in the midst of a desert [Bailey 1972]. Bailey's desert refers to forested landscapes, which do not have the diversity for sustaining a rich population of wildlife.…”

Sex as a Status Variable in Work Settings: Female and Male Reports of Dominance Behavior

“…Willis (1966) found sex, age, and extent of friendship to be important personal space variables, with women, younger persons and intimates being more closely approached. Bailey, Harnett, and Gibson (1972) reported that when males approached females, they invaded their personal space to a greater extent than when women approached men. In another study, observers interpreted the meaning of personal space invasion differently when the violator was a woman rather than a man.…”