Why Personal Space Counts

The concept of personal space attracts different definitions to individuals hailing from various regions of the globe. For instance, for those who reside in the west, there exist clear-cut boundaries and norms that delineate how close is too close, and the emphasis on individuality often highlights one's physical comfort and safety. In India, personal space is often a real headscratcher because the line between oneself and others is hazy, both in physical and psychological terms. This raises the question: Does personal space actually matter?

Many people often point out that since most of us spend a majority of our time in the midst of others, we eventually reach a point where we acclimatise to our idea of an interpersonal physical distance being breached quite often, as well as having less room to focus on our thoughts and feelings in the interest of our groups. While this may be true, it is decidedly not healthy. It may be argued that since we do indeed spend hours together in social circles, we should have developed the skill of understanding why a distance must be maintained between ourselves and the world outside, and our own personal experiences of feeling stuck in a cramped bus or bloated because there are a dozen intrusions invading our minds should help us empathise with how others feel in this regard.

The field of proxemics highlights how humans use space and how it subsequently affects interpersonal communication, and this is strongly influenced by culture as well as population density. Studies under this field have identified that when the personal and socially accepted interactional space of individuals are violated, they respond with behaviours that insulated them from the other person or chose to withdraw. Whether this response is consciously thought out or not, it seems likely that the bubbles that individuals construct around themselves are essential for their peace of mind as well as security. Notably, women are much more likely to both observe and offer a negative reaction when their personal space is violated. This could be a consequence of sociocultural norms as well as the unfortunate status quo where incidents in which their spaces are infringed persist widely in both urban and rural areas.

Keeping all of this is mind, a world of difference could be made if we were to make a conscious effort to be mindful of our behaviour and bodies during social interactions so that we may ensure that nobody feels suffocated and insecure in their daily experiences. Also, you know, COVID norms are a thing, so it is much more relevant in the present scenario. A stable bubble could go a long way in allowing everyone the freedom that they need to express who they are without being stifled in any manner.