Use of Space Anthropologist Hall - Book Report/Review Example

Proxemics as an Aspect of Nonverbal Communication and its’ Relation to Intercultural Communications Not only economically but also culturally we live in an increasingly populous and global world with people from many cultures intermingling. (Rosenbloom 2006). We communicate with each other not only verbally, but nonverbally by gestures, eye contact. touching and moving closer or further away. The same behavior can have different meanings in different cultures. Through proxemics, it is important to learn this so that the risk of conflict possibly even leading to violence can be reduced.

For example, showing a finger may be an insult in 1 culture but mean “you are number 1” in another. Men kissing each other would likely imply to us that they are gay but in other societies, this is done by men merely as a friendly gesture without any implication of gay sexual orientation. Most straight American men would be offended by such a kiss. While understanding by itself will not eliminate the potential for intercultural disharmony and conflict, it will reduce its’ likelihood due to assumptions because of misinterpretations of the motives for an actors behavior.

Understanding proxemics fosters effective intercultural communications by showing that behaviors are largely culturally determined and should be understood in context rather than judged in terms of one’s own culture. Another Aspect of Nonverbal Communication Another aspect of nonverbal communication is that it can signal a wish or an invitation to enter someone’s perceived intimate space or indicate a lack of interest in allowing this to happen. For example in Western culture at a dance a female will show a desire to come into the intimate space of a male partner by eye contact, smiling and holding him closer.

If she is not interested she will hold him only at arm’s length. If the male is intuitive enough he can gauge how she will respond to a verbal invitation to pursue a relationship and lessen the risk of rejection. We may feel uncomfortable if a person is standing too close to us in a queue, but realizing they are doing nothing illegal we glare at them rather than say “you are standing too close to me”( Rosenbloom 2006).