Investigation of the proxemic behavior of Iranian professors and university students: Effects of gender and status

Abstract

The present study investigated the proxemic behavior of university students and professors and the effects of gender and status on its patterns in an academic setting in Iran. Through an observation–notation system, 600 interactions between student–student, professor–student, and professor–professor were observed and recorded. The participants were classified according to their gender (male or female) and status (high or low). To analyze the data obtained from the observation, descriptive statistics and t-test at p < .05 level of significance was run. The results indicated that there was a significant gender-bound difference and status relevant variation between the physical distances male and female university professors and students observed. However, contrary to “status organizing behavior” theory, it was found that higher status individuals maintained the same proxemic patterns as lower status individuals did. Moreover, in line with Hudson's concept of power and solidarity, the study made it clear that while interacting with people from higher status, the physical distance of the lower status individuals differed significantly.