Distance estimation as a factor of the proximity and humanness of the target
Date
1984
Authors
Gallagher, Timothy Michael Boehler
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Abstract
This paper examines the effects of changes in interpersonal distance on the accuracy of distance estimation. The 32 estimated interpersonal distances were either closer or farther than the Preferred Interpersonal Distance (PID). The experimental design was developed to apply Argyle and Dean's (1965) Affiliative-Conflict Theory to a covert behavior (estimation of distances). Two additional factors tested were Crowdedness (of the subject) and Humanness (of the target). The results indicate that the subject compensates for inappropriate interpersonal distances by perceptually adjusting these distances in the direction of PID, clearly supporting Affiliative-Conflict Theory. There was no effect due to Crowdedness, indicating that simply increasing the number of people in a room will not necessarily intensify a person's response to the stimuli evoked by those people. Results relevant to the Humanness factors were unclear but suggest that estimation of distances to inanimate targets are generally accurate except when they closely resemble distances to a human target.