Proxemics
by Miki
“in the development of each human being, non verbal communication precedes and perhaps structures all subsequent communication.”
(Harrison and Crounch, 1972)
Introduction
What is proxemics ?
- Hall’s proxemics zones - ; Marquardt, N., & Greenberg, S. (2012). Informing the design of proxemic interactions. IEEE Pervasive Computing, 11(2), 14-23
Proxemics can be defined as the study of means in which individuals make use of the physical space in the interaction between the individuals. (Minu, 2012)
Proxemics is the study of interpersonal spatial relationships between individuals, especially on how people use space and how population density affects the way people behave, communicate, and interact with others. It is one of the various nonverbal communication subfields, along with haptics, kinesics, vocalics, and chronemics. Attributes such as distances between people, orientation, body language are emphasised through the study of proxemics.
According to Anthropologist Edward Hall’s diagram on proxemics, four discrete zones are categorised through different physical distance, ranging from highly intimate to personal to social to public. Specifically, 0–50 cm is considered Intimate; 0.5–1m as personal; 1–4m as social; and >4m as public.
Proxemics in Japan
Japanese society is embedded with a high context culture where non-verbal communication is highly encouraged. The personal space in Japan is often ensured at arm’s length (social distance mentioned in the previous Hall’s diagram). In gerneral, Japanese people require a larger personal space and are not a big fan of body touch.
“The level of implicit communication is high and the boundaries between in and out group members are highly visible”
- Lzguevara, 2014
Therefore, compared to other cultures and countries, proxemics in Japan are less intimate by and large. However, physical distance varies depending on different places such as in an urban public spaces in Tokyo, where there is a large population density, people have less personal space compared to people living in a rural areas.
Why observing proxemics in Toyoko hiroba ?
From several times of observation in Toyoko hiroba, Toyoko kids seem to be very close to each other despite the difference in gender or age and whether they are strangers to each other or not.
How Toyoko kids interact with each other is not commonly seen in day-to-day life in Japan as there seems to be a much closer physical distance between them. Since proxemics among Toyoko kids is different from proxemics that can be seen in many other places in Japan, the reason behind this is interesting to discover.
The distinctive proxemics observed among Toyoko kids will enable us to explore their relationships with each other, their group culture, and the meaning of Toyoko hiroba to them.
- Theme -
How do Toyoko kids use proxemics to build relationships with each other and form a group?
For my final project, I would like to investigate how Toyoko kids build their own community through their relationships with each other, specifically, through the use of proxemics. Toyoko kids gather in Tohoyoko hiroba (A plaza next to Toho building, called Toyoko hiroba) for different reasons. Some go there because they got abused at home, feel disconnected from society or have a hard time merging themselves into the social norms. What do they seek from the hiroba? Might be a sense of belonging as we human being all look for a sense of belonging either to a group, family, or friends. What does Toyoko hiroba mean to Toyoko kids? Maybe it is an alternative place that can be called as “home” to them.
Many Toyoko kids probably have been through things that many of us will not understand, such as violence, disharmonised family, or loneliness. Such experiences might make it even harder for them to build relationships with strangers in the Toyoko hiroba.
I would like to explore how Toyoko kids build their own community with a focus on proxemics through the below three main domains.
- Three main sections -
Sections
proxemics