Saturday, June 26, 2010
*Concept from Chapter 5*
The concept I found interesting in Chapter 5 was, "Personal Space". Many of us are aware of this term and that we like our space to breathe. Whether it be walking on the streets or even on the road, cars tail gating us. We seem to like our personal space in several different public situations. "Personal space, acts as a kind of portable territory that we carry with us wherever we go." (Trenholm. P. 128) We like our space on trains, buses or at a public super market, wherever life may bring us. Although our ideas of personal space may be very different from one another. As for Eastern Culture, their more of a group society and like being right next to another, shoulder to shoulder. Our society is different in that aspect and we like to keep our distance. We may even feel too crowded and that our personal space has been violated. "If others come too close, we move away until we feel comfortable." (Trenholm. P. 128) Unless of course, we're interested in the other person and are cuddled up close, because we like the person. All and all, we seem to like our personal space unless someone close within our social circle. As for me, I don't mind the personal space so much. If meeting someone, I don't shake hands, I give them a hug. By doing that, I may be violating someones personal space; although they don't' seem to mind.
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Hi Linderz143,
ReplyDeleteI thought it was interesting that you brought up the idea that personal space varies from one culture to another. My husband is from Brazil, and every time we visit his family it always takes me some time to adjust to the much smaller amount of personal space that people use there. On the buses people are usually packed tightly against each other, and in stores people stand really close to one another in line.
In one store I experienced what Trenholm refrers to as “crowding.” A saleswoman came up to me in a beauty store and started touching my hair and asking me what kinds of products I use. Her and her coworkers were apparently fascinated that I don’t use anything to straighten my hair, and before I knew it I had a bunch of random people touching my hair and talking in my face. Even though I was trying to be easygoing and adjust to the culture, the saleswoman asked me if I was nervous and commented on how different it must be where I come from. She must have been reading my non-verbal communication to understand that I felt uncomfortable.
In the U.S. we definitely keep a lot more distance from one another. I like your idea of breaking the ice in some situations and giving people a hug. This seems very friendly in social situations. :)