Interpersonal Distance as Affected by Room Size, Status, and Sex

Abstract

Summary The relation between room size and interpersonal distance as manifested in a seated conversation, as well as the effects of the sex and relative status of the speakers upon this distance, are examined. Subjects (n = 80) were asked to interact singly with one of 12 confederates in varying combinations of room size, status, and sex conditions. As predicted, the size of this interpersonal distance was inversely related to room size. A perceptual-behavioral threshold for room size was suggested, as it was also noted that the distance scores in the small room were distributed bimodally as opposed to the unimodal scores in the large room. Neither status nor sex was found to affect interpersonal distance consistently.