Interpersonal Distances are the Consequence of the Self-organization of Human Spatial Behavior: A Theoretical Study Based on Synergetics

Abstract

It is well documented that humans position themselves at preferred distances with respect to others. The distances characterizing human spatial behavior are known to depend on the social interactions between the actors and their dyadic partners. A quantitative model that predicts interpersonal distances and is based on the concept of the self-organization of human spatial behavior has been missing in the literature. In the present study such a model is derived within the framework of synergetics, a theory of self-organization. The model corresponds to an evolution equation for the variations of interpersonal distance over time. In line with the equilibrium point hypothesis of interpersonal distances discussed in the literature, preferred distances are represented by the fixed points of the proposed evolution equation. In this context, it is argued that the adjustment of an actor from a personal to an intimate interpersonal distance can be considered as a subcritical pitchfork bifurcation. As a by-product of the proposed theoretical approach, the notion is supported that interpersonal distances are body-scaled.