Factors of Personal Space
Personal space is something that we all have. However, there are multiple factors that influence the differing distances of one's personal space. These factors include gender, age, and culture, among others (Tolley).
Gender
Males interacting with other males require the most personal space (Gifford, 1987). Therefore, males communicating with other males have the most distance between them. Females require less space than males, and male-female interaction requires the least amount of personal space (Tolley).
Age
Research done by Aziraj and Ćeranić in 2012 suggests that our personal space grows as we age. As part of social learning, children gradually aquire a sense of personal space as they mature.
Culture
As mentioned before, culture plays a large part in one's personal space. The distance from nationalities vary greatly. According to ChangingMinds.com, Japanese have a personal distance of 36 inches, North American's require about 18 inches of personal space, Western European's have a 14-16 inch radius, and Middle Easterns have the closest personal space at 8-12 inches.
