Usually, people keep a six-foot distance to demonstrate social and psychological distance. They thus show courtesy and respect for the interlocutor without neglecting them. At the same time, such a distance allows you to feel confident in front of the interlocutor. When people hold it, it is usually possible to talk about many topics: study, work, and recent vacation (Jenkinson, 2017). As my observations show, however, such a distance may seem uncomfortable and even ‘cold’ for some people. It is especially true for young people, and I can also assume that women are more likely than men to close the distance if they talk to someone of the same sex. Such hostility is due, perhaps, to suspicions or self-doubt. For myself, I find the six-foot distance very comfortable, as I like to look directly at a person, perceiving him as a holistic image.
Clear examples of non-verbal language are, in my opinion, eye contact and various hand movements. Insecure people straighten their hair during a conversation; nervous people can even tear it and touch their faces unnecessarily intrusively (Smith, 2021). An excellent example is a situation when a person tries to lie in a conversation and involuntarily puts his hand to his mouth as if covering it. It is believed to echo children’s consciousness; when children are just learning to understand the concept of lying, they take the utterance of lying words exceptionally literally. They cover their mouths so that people, the interlocutor, would not see the movement of their lips. In general, there are many ways of non-verbal communication, and being able to read these signs, I can understand a lot when talking with a person.
To invade a six-foot space is to shorten the physical (and psychological, perhaps) distance abruptly and without warning. Usually, people consider this a manifestation of impudence and disrespect. People can perceive intrusion into a six-foot space differently depending on the situation and degree of familiarity. Such violations are unacceptable at work, as corporate etiquette rules prevail during work between employees (Smith, 2021). In entertainment, it would seem that people with indifference could perceive an intrusion into a six-foot space. However, this is not the case, and if the interlocutors have recently met, then a sharp reduction in the distance may scare one of them. When invading someone else’s six-foot space, at least the interlocutor will take a step or two back.
Reference
Jenkinson, P. (2017). Nonverbal code: Proxemics (space) [Video]. YouTube. Web.
Smith, J. (2021). 10 nonverbal cues that convey confidence at work. Forbes. Web.