INTERIOR

ENVIRONMENTAL
ANALYSIS

PRESENTATION 02

in the development of each human being, non

verbal communication precedes and perhaps
structures all subsequent communication.

- Harrison and Crounch

Non - Verbal Communication

When our communication is supplemented by the aspects of non
verbal cues, like facial expression, gestures etc- its message paired
with the lexical content, makes the interpretation of the senders
meaning complete.
Albert Mehrabian, a professor of Psychology, estimates that
55% of the impact of a message, which reaches the listener, is through
the non verbal mode.
With his experiments he suggests,
Total impact (in the listener) = (0.07 verbal + 0.38 Vocal + 0.55 Non
Verbal) of the speaker

Knapps (1971), one of the scholars in this field has classified non
verbal communication in the following way:
Environmental Factor : It consists of elements such as furniture,
architectural style, lighting, smells, colors and temperature.
Proxemics : It is defined as the use and perception of ones social and
personal space, such as in seating and spatial arrangements.
Kinesics : It is defined as body motions that include gestures, body
movements, postures, facial and eye behaviors.
Haptics : It deals with the touching behavior of an individual
Physical Characteristic : It comprises of personal characteristics such
as physique, breath odor, height, weight, hair and skin color.
Paralanguage : It consists of nonverbal cues surrounding speech, such
as pitch, volume, tempo and intensity of the voice.
Artifacts : The manipulated objects that are in contact with the
interacting persons such as perfume, clothes, lipstick, hair pieces,
eyeglasses and miscellaneous beauty aids.
Chronemics : Non verbal communication with relation to time.

Thousand of experiences teach us, that

space communicates
- E.T.Hall

PROXEMICS

 Proxemics is primarily based on the amount of personal space we

need or maintain when we indulge in any sort of activity.
This can be attributed to various factors including social norms,
familiarity with the other person, and personal characteristics of an
individual.
It indicates the closeness between the two people.

What is proxemics? Who coined the term and when?

Proxemics is the study of human use of space and the effects that
population density has on behavior, communication, and social
interaction.
Edward T. Hall, the cultural anthropologist who coined the term in
1963, defined proxemics as "the interrelated observations and
theories of man's use of space as a specialized elaboration of
culture.
In his foundational work on proxemics, The Hidden Dimension, Hall
emphasized the impact of proxemic behavior (the use of space)
on interpersonal communication.
According to Hall, the study of proxemics is valuable in evaluating
not only the way people interact with others in daily life, but also "the
organization of space in their houses and buildings, and ultimately
the layout of their towns.
Proxemics remains a hidden component of interpersonal
communication that is uncovered through observation and strongly
influenced by culture.

 There are three fundamental areas with which the experts in the
field categorize Proxemics
1.Distance
2.Spaces
3.Modes of behavior and perception

INTERPERSONAL DISTANCES
Hall described the interpersonal distances of man (the relative
distances between people) in four zones: intimate space, personal
space, social space, and public space.
The distance surrounding a person form space. The space within
intimate distance and personal distance is called personal space.
The space within social distance and out of personal distance is
called social space. And the space within public distance is called
public space.
Interpersonal distances can be measured along both horizontal &
vertical axes.

Edward T. Halls
personal
reaction bubbles

Horizontal interpersonal distances

Personal space is the region surrounding a person which they
regard as psychologically theirs. Most people value their personal
space and feel discomfort, anger, or anxiety when their personal
space is encroached. Permitting a person to enter personal space
and entering somebody else's personal space are indicators of
perception of those people's relationship.
An intimate zone is reserved for close friends, lovers, children and
close family members.
Another zone (personal zone) is used for conversations with friends,
to chat with associates, and in group discussions.
A further zone (social zone) is reserved for strangers, newly formed
groups, and new acquaintances.
A fourth zone (public zone) is used for speeches, lectures, and
theater; essentially, public distance is that range reserved for larger
audiences.

 Intimate distance for embracing, touching or whispering

Close phase less than 6 inches (15 cm)
Far phase 6 to 18 inches (15 to 46 cm)
Personal distance for interactions among good friends
or family
Close phase 1.5 to 2.5 feet (46 to 76 cm)
Far phase 2.5 to 4 feet (76 to 122 cm)
Social distance for interactions among acquaintances
Close phase 4 to 7 feet (1.2 to 2.1 m)
Far phase 7 to 12 feet (2.1 to 3.7 m)
Public distance used for public speaking
Close phase 12 to 25 feet (3.7 to 7.6 m)
Far phase 25 feet (7.6 m) or more

Vertical interpersonal distances

There is also vertical distance that communicates something
between people.
In this case, however, vertical distance is often understood to
convey the degree of dominance or sub-ordinance in a relationship.
Looking up at or down on another person can be taken literally in
many cases, with the higher person asserting greater status.
Teachers, and especially those who work with small children, should
realize that students will interact more comfortably with a teacher
when they are in same vertical plane. Used in this way, an
understanding of vertical distance can become a tool for improved
teacher-student communication. On the other hand, a disciplinarian
might put this information to use in order to gain psychological
advantage over an unruly student.

Conclusion on interpersonal distances

A person's personal space is carried with them everywhere they go.
It is the most inviolate form of territory. Body spacing and posture,
according to Hall, are unintentional reactions to sensory fluctuations
or shifts, such as subtle changes in the sound and pitch of a
person's voice. Social distance between people is reliably correlated
with physical distance, as are intimate and personal distance.
Hall did not mean for these measurements to be strict guidelines
that translate precisely to human behavior, but rather a system for
gauging the effect of distance on communication and how the effect
varies between cultures and other environmental factors.

Proxemics spaced seating which considers peoples personal spaces

Typical airport seating which does not consider peoples personal spaces

Proxemics spaced seating versus typical airport seating that leaves

little space between peoples personal spaces

E .T. Halls proxemics distinguishes three categories of space:

a) Fixed Feature Space: This space is formed by walls and
territorial buildings. For example Houses, Buildings, Cities,
Class rooms etc. The use of the class room space could either
make the students comfortable or uncomfortable, feel
motivated or demotivated.
b) Semi fixed space: This category of space is more important in
interpersonal communication. In this, the objects are already
fixed and the position of the objects and the space resulted
provide details on the nature of the interaction as well as the
status of the participants. This category of space is sub divided
into two : Sociofugal & Sociopetal spaces.
c) Informal Space: This refers to the private space which people
maintain when they interact. According to Hall, informal spatial
patterns have distinct bounds and such deep if unvoiced, significance
that they form an essential part of culture. To misunderstand this
significance may invite disaster.

Sociofugal Space: It keeps the people away from the process of

communication. It transmits connotative meanings such as large, cold,
impersonal and so on.
Sociopetal Space: It brings the people together and stimulates
involvement in the process of communication.

Sociopetal seating arrangement

Sociopetal seating arrangement, in a

public space to encourage interaction.
Sociofugal seating arrangement

In their book Small Group and Team Communication, Thomas E. Harris and
John C. Sherblom suggest us some ways in which seating arrangements can
be used to facilitate communication between the members.
Individuals sitting across a table from
each other maximize their interpersonal
distance, increase their potential for
sending and receiving both verbal and
nonverbal messages and thus perhaps
conflicting messages, and increase the
likelihood of becoming competitive.
Sitting with a corner of the table
between participants reduces
interpersonal distance, focuses
attention on the project and materials
rather than on the individuals non
verbals, and may help enhance the
cooperativeness of the participants.
Sitting side by side reduces the
These types of seating arrangements are
interpersonal distance still farther and,
displayed in the following diagram
unless that interpersonal distance is too
illustrated in Harris and Sherbloms book
intimate to feel comfortable, may also
- Small Group and Team Communication
be a cooperative seating arrangement