HEAD
MOVEMENTS
As
with everything, head movements vary according to the culture. Perhaps
the exception is the gesture of agreeing, as a sign that you have been
actively listening, that is to say, that you are listening with great
interest to the other person. But using this gesture excesively can
give the impression that you want to finish the conversation quickly.
During
a conversation, the head should move in a discreet and soft way, to
avoid distractions and give someone the feeling of discomfort.
INTERPERSONAL
DISTANCE
Personal
space is the space which if invaded causes discomfort. Therefore, we
try to maintain a minimum distance with others, interpersonal distance.
There is no doubt that people need a space around them to feel good,
which changes according to the situation, to their mood, culture, the
type of people that surround them...Every situation entails a minimum
distance which if intruded makes the person feel uncomfortable and which
we try to defend in different ways.
Therefore,
we should try and learn the verbal signs or non verbal signs that others
give us when we invade their personal sapce.
When
people need greater autonomy, to protect themselves from communication,
as to free themselves emotionally, they can opt for withdrawing from
the others, and therefore increase their interpersonal distance.
We
have already mentioned that what is considered personal space varies
depending on the different cultures. Arabs generally need less personal
space than the Latin Americans, and these less than the English and
the Americans. There is also a difference according to gender: women,
generally approach people more than men; and also the opposite is true,
people approach the women more than the men. It is possible that these
differences are also because of the culture, the roles that are given
to each gender.
Everybody
has their own right to personal space and the boundaries are set out
into four areas depending on the type of person:
•
Intimate area (15-45 cm): this is the area that people look after
with more persistance, as private property. It's the space which people
who have a very intimate and affectionate relationship with us can
enter. Body contact is easy, the tone of voice can easily be lowered
and still be audible, and other sensations come to us like smell or
the heat of that person. However,the complete vision of the speaker
is difficult because they are so close.
•
Personal Area (46 cm - 1,20 m): this is the distance which we keep
for close relationship, although not intimate (work colleauges, social
meetings, parties...) With this distance body contact is also easy,
and you can see the speaker better, loosing the influence of other
senses.
•
Social Area (1,21 cm- 3,6 m): we usually maintain this distance when
we are talking to people we don't know, strangers; in short, what
we employ in impersonal relationships. This distance usually requires
you to speak louder.
•
Public Area (more than 3,6 m): this is our visible and audible limit.
This is for public occasions and formal events.
