RealLife:Proxemics
The term proxemics was introduced by anthropologist Edward T. Hall in 1963 to describe the measureable distances between people as they interacted.
Hall pointed out that social distance between people is reliably correlated with physical distance, and described four distances:
- intimate distance for embracing, touching or whispering (15-45 cm, 6-18 inches)
- personal distance for interactions among good friends (45-120 cm, 1.5-4 feet)
- social distance for interactions among acquaintances (1.2-3.5 m, 4-12 ft)
- public distance used for public speaking (over 3.5 m, 12 ft)
Heini Hediger described a number of standard interaction distances used in one form or another between animals. Two of these are flight distance and critical distance, used when animals of different species meet, whereas others are personal distance and social distance,Hediger described a number of standard interaction distances used in one form or another between animals. Two of these are flight distance and critical distance, used when animals of different species meet, whereas others are personal distance and social distance,
"Flight, defence, and critical distances are specific, within certain limits, and may be accurately measured, often within inches. *"
- flight distance (run boundary),
- defence distance, The attack resulting from this change, always with the character of self defence (emergency), is called the defence reaction, and is characteristic for each species
- Critical distance(attack boundry) Finally, it may be that owing to the presence of an enemy the animal wants to escape, but circumstances may prevent it; for instance, it may find itself cornered, or feel that it is. In such a situation it shows (again specifically) critical reaction the moment its enemy reaches the critical distance. This critical reaction consists of an attack, with emergency characteristics.
- interspecies distance, distance keep between 'stranger' species
- intraspecies distance, The distance separating members of it's own species
- personal distance, distance it want approach closer to other individuals.
Moves at least InterSpecies away from strangers, keeps another member of it's own species at least Intraspecies near it and keeps personal away from everyone.
