Jack​ ​Regnier

Maura​ ​Cherney

11/10/2017

Communication​ ​and​ ​Technology

In​ ​everyday​ ​life,​ ​there​ ​are​ ​many​ ​ways​ ​to​ ​communicate​ ​that​ ​not​ ​everyone​ ​realizes.​ ​ ​There

is​ ​the​ ​obvious​ ​communication​ ​that​ ​is​ ​verbal,​ ​or​ ​what​ ​a​ ​person​ ​is​ ​actually​ ​saying.​ ​ ​Beyond​ ​that,

there​ ​are​ ​many​ ​ways​ ​to​ ​communicate​ ​with​ ​a​ ​person​ ​non-verbally.​ ​ ​There​ ​are​ ​many​ ​examples​ ​of

non-verbal​ ​communication.​ ​ ​Eye​ ​contact,​ ​touch,​ ​and​ ​posture​ ​are​ ​some​ ​examples​ ​of​ ​non-verbal

communication​ ​that​ ​immediately​ ​come​ ​to​ ​mind.​ ​ ​One​ ​way​ ​of​ ​communicating​ ​non-verbally​ ​that

many​ ​people​ ​don’t​ ​think​ ​about​ ​is​ ​proxemics.​ ​ ​Proxemics​ ​is​ ​a​ ​non-verbal​ ​communication​ ​dealing

with​ ​how​ ​close​ ​or​ ​far​ ​away​ ​someone​ ​is​ ​to​ ​someone​ ​else.

Imagine​ ​being​ ​at​ ​a​ ​mall​ ​with​ ​some​ ​friends.​ ​ ​As​ ​a​ ​group,​ ​you​ ​are​ ​sitting​ ​in​ ​the​ ​cafeteria

people​ ​watching.​ ​ ​As​ ​you​ ​witness​ ​the​ ​different​ ​people​ ​around​ ​you,​ ​you​ ​begin​ ​to​ ​notice​ ​that​ ​you

can​ ​find​ ​out​ ​who​ ​are​ ​strangers,​ ​who​ ​are​ ​friends,​ ​and​ ​who​ ​are​ ​dating​ ​based​ ​on​ ​the​ ​distance

between​ ​two​ ​people.​ ​ ​You​ ​see​ ​two​ ​people​ ​at​ ​two​ ​separate​ ​tables​ ​across​ ​the​ ​room​ ​from​ ​each​ ​other,

it​ ​can​ ​be​ ​highly​ ​inferred​ ​that​ ​they​ ​are​ ​strangers.​ ​ ​You​ ​then​ ​notice​ ​a​ ​group​ ​of​ ​people​ ​sitting​ ​at​ ​the

same​ ​table,​ ​but​ ​on​ ​opposite​ ​sides​ ​of​ ​the​ ​table​ ​or​ ​next​ ​to​ ​each​ ​other​ ​with​ ​a​ ​nice​ ​amount​ ​of​ ​space

between.​ ​ ​To​ ​you,​ ​it​ ​will​ ​look​ ​like​ ​they​ ​are​ ​a​ ​group​ ​of​ ​friends.​ ​ ​Finally,​ ​you​ ​see​ ​two​ ​people.​ ​ ​They

are​ ​sitting​ ​on​ ​opposite​ ​sides​ ​of​ ​the​ ​table,​ ​but​ ​they​ ​are​ ​both​ ​hunched​ ​over​ ​toward​ ​the​ ​center​ ​of​ ​the

table​ ​holding​ ​hands.​ ​ ​Based​ ​on​ ​their​ ​outward​ ​expression​ ​of​ ​wanting​ ​to​ ​be​ ​nearer​ ​to​ ​each​ ​other,​ ​it

can​ ​be​ ​inferred​ ​that​ ​these​ ​two​ ​are​ ​on​ ​a​ ​date.​ ​ ​These​ ​are​ ​all​ ​examples​ ​of​ ​the​ ​principle​ ​of

proxemics.​ ​ ​Proxemics​ ​deal​ ​with​ ​what​ ​the​ ​distance​ ​between​ ​two​ ​people​ ​communicate​ ​to​ ​other
people.​ ​ ​Given​ ​these​ ​examples,​ ​it​ ​is​ ​easy​ ​to​ ​see​ ​how​ ​this​ ​idea​ ​can​ ​be​ ​put​ ​into​ ​use​ ​in​ ​day​ ​to​ ​day

life.

A​ ​few​ ​other​ ​examples​ ​of​ ​how​ ​proxemics​ ​can​ ​be​ ​put​ ​into​ ​use​ ​is​ ​finding​ ​out​ ​if​ ​someone​ ​has

a​ ​crush​ ​on​ ​you​ ​or​ ​in​ ​flirting.​ ​ ​When​ ​someone​ ​likes​ ​someone​ ​else,​ ​they​ ​tend​ ​to​ ​want​ ​to​ ​get​ ​closer

to​ ​that​ ​person.​ ​ ​So​ ​if​ ​someone​ ​wanted​ ​to​ ​find​ ​out​ ​if​ ​someone​ ​else​ ​liked​ ​them,​ ​they​ ​could​ ​use

proxemics.​ ​ ​On​ ​the​ ​opposite​ ​side​ ​of​ ​this,​ ​flirting​ ​can​ ​be​ ​helped​ ​with​ ​proxemics.​ ​ ​When​ ​flirting,

getting​ ​close​ ​and​ ​intimate​ ​with​ ​another​ ​person​ ​can​ ​communicate​ ​affection​ ​or​ ​a​ ​need​ ​to​ ​be​ ​close

with​ ​them.​ ​ ​One​ ​final​ ​example​ ​of​ ​proxemics​ ​in​ ​use​ ​can​ ​be​ ​found​ ​in​ ​a​ ​classroom​ ​setting.​ ​ ​When

looking​ ​at​ ​where​ ​students​ ​sit​ ​in​ ​a​ ​classroom,​ ​it​ ​can​ ​communicate​ ​how​ ​they​ ​feel​ ​about​ ​a​ ​class.

When​ ​a​ ​student​ ​sits​ ​toward​ ​the​ ​front​ ​of​ ​the​ ​classroom,​ ​it​ ​shows​ ​that​ ​they​ ​want​ ​to​ ​learn.​ ​ ​On​ ​the

other​ ​hand,​ ​students​ ​in​ ​the​ ​back​ ​of​ ​a​ ​classroom​ ​communicate​ ​disinterest​ ​in​ ​the​ ​class.​ ​ ​Also,​ ​the

way​ ​a​ ​student​ ​sits​ ​can​ ​communicate​ ​interest​ ​through​ ​proxemics.​ ​ ​No​ ​matter​ ​where​ ​a​ ​student​ ​is,​ ​if

they​ ​are​ ​sitting​ ​up/​ ​leaning​ ​forward,​ ​it​ ​communicates​ ​excitement​ ​about​ ​the​ ​topic​ ​and​ ​they​ ​want​ ​to

be​ ​closer​ ​to​ ​the​ ​teacher​ ​to​ ​hear​ ​more.​ ​ ​With​ ​the​ ​opposite​ ​(a​ ​student​ ​sitting​ ​back​ ​in​ ​his​ ​or​ ​her

chair),​ ​can​ ​communicate​ ​disinterest​ ​in​ ​a​ ​subject.​ ​ ​Proxemics​ ​really​ ​communicate​ ​a​ ​lot.

Because​ ​this​ ​area​ ​of​ ​communication​ ​is​ ​pretty​ ​uncommonly​ ​discussed​ ​or​ ​explored,​ ​there

have​ ​been​ ​many​ ​studies​ ​that​ ​have​ ​been​ ​conducted​ ​in​ ​order​ ​to​ ​understand​ ​it​ ​more.​ ​ ​Two​ ​studies​ ​in

particular​ ​explored​ ​proxemics,​ ​one​ ​deals​ ​with​ ​it​ ​when​ ​it​ ​comes​ ​to​ ​social​ ​deviants​ ​(hostile)​ ​while

the​ ​other​ ​explores​ ​the​ ​use​ ​of​ ​proxemics​ ​in​ ​the​ ​opera​ ​of​ ​“Bluebeard’s​ ​Castle.”.​ ​ ​The​ ​first​ ​study

took​ ​a​ ​total​ ​of​ ​60​ ​high​ ​school​ ​students,​ ​30​ ​being​ ​normal​ ​in​ ​behavior​ ​and​ ​academics​ ​and​ ​30​ ​being

normal​ ​in​ ​academics​ ​but​ ​deviant​ ​in​ ​behavior.​ ​ ​The​ ​researchers​ ​wanted​ ​to​ ​test​ ​and​ ​see​ ​if​ ​deviant

students​ ​reacted​ ​differently​ ​or​ ​the​ ​same​ ​to​ ​personal​ ​space.​ ​ ​To​ ​do​ ​this,​ ​they​ ​put​ ​a​ ​student​ ​in​ ​the
center​ ​of​ ​a​ ​room.​ ​ ​They​ ​then​ ​would​ ​inform​ ​the​ ​student​ ​that​ ​researcher​ ​would​ ​be​ ​approaching

them​ ​from​ ​four​ ​sides.​ ​ ​The​ ​researcher​ ​would​ ​start​ ​8​ ​feet​ ​away​ ​from​ ​the​ ​student​ ​in​ ​each​ ​direction

and​ ​would​ ​take​ ​a​ ​12​ ​inch​ ​step​ ​towards​ ​the​ ​student.​ ​ ​When​ ​the​ ​student​ ​began​ ​to​ ​feel

uncomfortable,​ ​he​ ​or​ ​she​ ​would​ ​inform​ ​the​ ​researcher.​ ​ ​What​ ​they​ ​found​ ​was​ ​what​ ​they​ ​had

originally​ ​expected.​ ​ ​The​ ​deviants​ ​said​ ​they​ ​were​ ​uncomfortable​ ​at​ ​a​ ​greater​ ​distance​ ​than​ ​the

normal​ ​student.​ ​ ​When​ ​coming​ ​from​ ​the​ ​front,​ ​a​ ​deviant​ ​student​ ​said​ ​they​ ​were​ ​uncomfortable

around​ ​three​ ​feet​ ​away,​ ​both​ ​sides​ ​were​ ​about​ ​three​ ​feet​ ​away,​ ​and​ ​the​ ​back​ ​was​ ​about​ ​5​ ​feet

away.​ ​ ​The​ ​average​ ​normal​ ​student​ ​said​ ​they​ ​were​ ​uncomfortable​ ​from​ ​the​ ​front​ ​at​ ​about​ ​2​ ​feet,

both​ ​sides​ ​at​ ​about​ ​2​ ​feet,​ ​and​ ​from​ ​behind​ ​at​ ​about​ ​4​ ​feet.​ ​ ​After​ ​averaging​ ​out​ ​the​ ​numbers​ ​and

making​ ​a​ ​drawing​ ​of​ ​the​ ​results,​ ​the​ ​researchers​ ​found​ ​that​ ​the​ ​shape​ ​of​ ​the​ ​circle​ ​of​ ​comfortable

space​ ​around​ ​both​ ​the​ ​deviant​ ​and​ ​normal​ ​students​ ​was​ ​the​ ​exact​ ​same.​ ​ ​“While​ ​deviants​ ​required

a​ ​greater​ ​proxemic​ ​area​ ​than​ ​normals,​ ​the​ ​groups​ ​did​ ​not​ ​differ​ ​in​ ​shape,​ ​which​ ​is​ ​a​ ​departure

from​ ​previous​ ​findings”​ ​(Newman,​ ​1973,​ ​p.​ ​8).​ ​ ​This​ ​was​ ​a​ ​piece​ ​of​ ​information​ ​that​ ​was​ ​both

different​ ​than​ ​they​ ​expected​ ​and​ ​different​ ​from​ ​what​ ​previous​ ​studies​ ​have​ ​found.​ ​ ​This​ ​study

suggests​ ​that​ ​due​ ​to​ ​greater​ ​stress​ ​and​ ​anxiety,​ ​deviants​ ​require​ ​a​ ​greater​ ​proxemic​ ​area.

The​ ​second​ ​source​ ​is​ ​mainly​ ​a​ ​reintroduction,​ ​of​ ​sorts,​ ​to​ ​the​ ​idea​ ​of​ ​proxemics,​ ​giving​ ​a

reminder​ ​to​ ​both​ ​regular​ ​people​ ​and​ ​communication​ ​researchers​ ​alike,​ ​the​ ​study​ ​of​ ​proxemics

and​ ​its​ ​uses.​ ​ ​In​ ​this​ ​particular​ ​study,​ ​the​ ​author​ ​does​ ​so​ ​through​ ​a​ ​recap​ ​of​ ​an​ ​opera​ ​of

“Bluebeard’s​ ​Castle,”​ ​a​ ​fairytale​ ​story​ ​similar​ ​to​ ​the​ ​story​ ​of​ ​Adam​ ​and​ ​Eve​ ​and​ ​the​ ​Tree​ ​of

Knowledge​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Bible.​ ​ ​There​ ​are​ ​seven​ ​portals​ ​in​ ​Bluebeard’s​ ​castle.​ ​ ​Judith,​ ​Bluebeard’s

recent​ ​wife,​ ​wants​ ​them​ ​to​ ​be​ ​opened,​ ​but​ ​the​ ​seventh​ ​portal​ ​is​ ​not​ ​to​ ​be​ ​opened.​ ​ ​In​ ​the​ ​end,

Judith​ ​forces​ ​Bluebeard​ ​to​ ​open​ ​the​ ​portal,​ ​and​ ​apparently​ ​Bluebeard​ ​dies​ ​while​ ​Judith​ ​lives,
which​ ​is​ ​a​ ​direct​ ​difference​ ​from​ ​the​ ​Adam​ ​and​ ​Eve​ ​story​ ​where​ ​they​ ​both​ ​get​ ​punished.

Anyways,​ ​in​ ​the​ ​opera,​ ​there​ ​is​ ​almost​ ​a​ ​dance​ ​like​ ​sequence​ ​between​ ​Judith​ ​and​ ​Bluebeard

when​ ​Judith​ ​is​ ​trying​ ​to​ ​convince​ ​Bluebeard​ ​to​ ​open​ ​each​ ​portal.​ ​ ​It​ ​starts​ ​with​ ​Judith

approaching​ ​Bluebeard​ ​lovingly,​ ​begging​ ​him​ ​to​ ​open​ ​the​ ​portal​ ​so​ ​that​ ​light​ ​may​ ​come​ ​into​ ​his

gloomy​ ​castle.​ ​ ​“He​ ​refuses​ ​taking​ ​physical​ ​distance​ ​from​ ​her.​ ​ ​She​ ​re-approaches​ ​him​ ​and

vehemently​ ​repeats​ ​her​ ​request,​ ​while​ ​professing​ ​her​ ​love​ ​for​ ​him”​ ​(Sluzki,​ ​page​ ​11-12).​ ​ ​This

signifies​ ​how​ ​each​ ​time​ ​she​ ​asks,​ ​he​ ​does​ ​not​ ​want​ ​to​ ​do​ ​it​ ​because​ ​he​ ​doesn’t​ ​want​ ​to​ ​give​ ​in​ ​to

the​ ​temptation.​ ​ ​She​ ​re-approaches​ ​him​ ​in​ ​order​ ​reaffirm​ ​and​ ​show​ ​him​ ​the​ ​she​ ​loves​ ​him​ ​and

wants​ ​him​ ​to​ ​do​ ​this​ ​for​ ​her.​ ​ ​This​ ​is​ ​just​ ​part​ ​of​ ​the​ ​study,​ ​but​ ​it​ ​gives​ ​an​ ​example​ ​of​ ​proxemics,

and​ ​is​ ​a​ ​big​ ​part​ ​of​ ​what​ ​the​ ​author​ ​is​ ​trying​ ​to​ ​get​ ​across,​ ​proxemics​ ​is​ ​important,​ ​relevant,​ ​and

worth​ ​researching.

In​ ​modern​ ​times,​ ​proxemics​ ​is​ ​still​ ​very​ ​relevant​ ​and​ ​is​ ​even​ ​used​ ​in​ ​some

advertisements.​ ​ ​One​ ​in​ ​particular​ ​shows​ ​a​ ​good​ ​use​ ​of​ ​proxemics​ ​in​ ​action,​ ​and​ ​that​ ​would​ ​be​ ​an

Ice​ ​Breakers​ ​ad​ ​from​ ​2014.​ ​ ​It​ ​is​ ​a​ ​short​ ​15​ ​second​ ​ad,​ ​but​ ​it​ ​does​ ​a​ ​really​ ​good​ ​job​ ​using

proxemics​ ​to​ ​communicate​ ​a​ ​message.​ ​ ​The​ ​commercial​ ​takes​ ​place​ ​on​ ​a​ ​street​ ​while​ ​it​ ​is​ ​raining

outside.​ ​ ​The​ ​viewer​ ​can​ ​see​ ​two​ ​people​ ​running​ ​towards​ ​a​ ​dry​ ​spot​ ​so​ ​that​ ​they​ ​can​ ​wait​ ​out​ ​the

rain.​ ​ ​Before​ ​they​ ​get​ ​to​ ​the​ ​dry​ ​place,​ ​it​ ​pauses​ ​and​ ​a​ ​light​ ​whitish-blue​ ​circle​ ​and​ ​distance​ ​line

signifies​ ​the​ ​dry​ ​spot​ ​as​ ​“Public​ ​Space.”​ ​ ​It​ ​unpauses​ ​and​ ​shows​ ​them​ ​both​ ​get​ ​to​ ​this​ ​dry​ ​area

with​ ​not​ ​as​ ​much​ ​room​ ​between​ ​them.​ ​ ​Again​ ​pausing,​ ​the​ ​same​ ​whitish-blue​ ​circle​ ​and​ ​distance

line​ ​appears,​ ​but​ ​it’s​ ​smaller​ ​this​ ​time.​ ​ ​Also,​ ​this​ ​time​ ​it​ ​is​ ​labeled​ ​as​ ​“Personal​ ​Space.”​ ​ ​It

unpauses​ ​and​ ​shows​ ​both​ ​people​ ​reach​ ​into​ ​their​ ​pockets​ ​for​ ​an​ ​Ice​ ​Breaker.​ ​ ​It​ ​shows​ ​them​ ​both

in​ ​each​ ​others​ ​personal​ ​space​ ​and​ ​the​ ​circle​ ​reappears,​ ​but​ ​smaller​ ​and​ ​in​ ​between​ ​the​ ​two​ ​in​ ​a
space​ ​that,​ ​if​ ​they​ ​were​ ​both​ ​in,​ ​would​ ​be​ ​them​ ​kissing.​ ​ ​Inside​ ​the​ ​circle​ ​is​ ​an​ ​Ice​ ​Breaker​ ​mint,

and​ ​this​ ​circle​ ​is​ ​labeled​ ​as​ ​“Ice​ ​Breaker​ ​Space.”​ ​ ​It​ ​ends​ ​with​ ​a​ ​voice​ ​over​ ​telling​ ​the​ ​viewer

what​ ​makes​ ​Ice​ ​Breakers​ ​special​ ​and​ ​to​ ​break​ ​the​ ​ice​ ​with​ ​Ice​ ​Breakers.

There​ ​is​ ​an​ ​obvious​ ​connection​ ​between​ ​this​ ​commercial​ ​and​ ​the​ ​concept​ ​of​ ​proxemics.

The​ ​commercial​ ​focuses​ ​on​ ​the​ ​distance​ ​between​ ​two​ ​people,​ ​which​ ​is​ ​exactly​ ​what​ ​proxemics

is.​ ​ ​The​ ​first​ ​“space”​ ​the​ ​commercial​ ​gives​ ​is​ ​“Public​ ​Space.”​ ​ ​In​ ​this​ ​sense​ ​of​ ​proxemics,​ ​there​ ​is

opportunity​ ​for​ ​anyone​ ​to​ ​pass​ ​through.​ ​ ​It​ ​is​ ​open​ ​to​ ​the​ ​public​ ​and​ ​suggests​ ​that​ ​the​ ​two

characters​ ​in​ ​the​ ​commercial​ ​are,​ ​in​ ​fact,​ ​strangers.​ ​ ​Then​ ​it​ ​goes​ ​to​ ​their​ ​“Personal​ ​Space.”​ ​ ​Both

characters​ ​are​ ​stuck​ ​in​ ​the​ ​other’s​ ​personal​ ​space​ ​with​ ​nowhere​ ​to​ ​go​ ​due​ ​to​ ​the​ ​rain.​ ​ ​This​ ​gives

them​ ​this​ ​flirty​ ​look​ ​like​ ​they​ ​find​ ​each​ ​other​ ​attractive,​ ​especially​ ​since​ ​neither​ ​one​ ​of​ ​them​ ​is

looking​ ​away​ ​or​ ​trying​ ​to​ ​get​ ​as​ ​far​ ​away​ ​from​ ​the​ ​other​ ​as​ ​possible.​ ​ ​The​ ​final​ ​space,​ ​the​ ​“Ice

Breaker​ ​Space,”​ ​suggests​ ​that​ ​these​ ​two​ ​are​ ​going​ ​to​ ​go​ ​in​ ​for​ ​the​ ​kiss.​ ​ ​Based​ ​on​ ​how​ ​the​ ​circles

kept​ ​the​ ​two​ ​characters​ ​in​ ​the​ ​circle,​ ​the​ ​smallest​ ​circle​ ​suggests​ ​that​ ​they​ ​will​ ​get​ ​even​ ​closer.

These​ ​circles​ ​are​ ​telling​ ​the​ ​story​ ​of​ ​how​ ​these​ ​strangers​ ​(told​ ​by​ ​the​ ​original​ ​space​ ​between​ ​them

and​ ​how​ ​they​ ​were​ ​coming​ ​from​ ​opposite​ ​directions)​ ​became​ ​a​ ​little​ ​more​ ​comfortable​ ​with​ ​each

other​ ​(seen​ ​by​ ​them​ ​getting​ ​closer​ ​and​ ​closer​ ​into​ ​each​ ​other’s​ ​personal​ ​space),​ ​and​ ​decided​ ​to

get​ ​a​ ​little​ ​fresh​ ​before​ ​kissing​ ​(shown​ ​by​ ​the​ ​small​ ​circle​ ​being​ ​a​ ​far​ ​enough​ ​distance​ ​to​ ​where

their​ ​mouths​ ​would​ ​be​ ​very​ ​close​ ​to​ ​touching).

Proxemics​ ​are​ ​an​ ​important​ ​way​ ​of​ ​communicating​ ​non-verbally​ ​that​ ​often​ ​gets

overlooked.​ ​ ​It​ ​can​ ​communicate​ ​many​ ​things,​ ​such​ ​as​ ​friendliness,​ ​interest,​ ​and​ ​even​ ​flirting.

Ice​ ​Breakers​ ​utilized​ ​this​ ​type​ ​of​ ​communication​ ​and​ ​effectively​ ​put​ ​it​ ​in​ ​their​ ​ads.​ ​ ​Remember,

distance​ ​can​ ​communicate​ ​more​ ​than​ ​one​ ​may​ ​think.

 Reference​ ​Page

Newman,​ ​R.​ ​C.,​ ​&​ ​Pollack,​ ​D.​ ​(February​ ​1973).​ ​Proxemics​ ​in​ ​deviant​ ​adolescents.​​ ​Journal​ ​of

Consulting​ ​and​ ​Clinical​ ​Psychology,​ ​40​(1),​ ​6-8.​ ​Retrieved​ ​from

https://search.proquest.com/docview/614278140?OpenUrlRefId=info:xri/sid:wcdiscovery&acco

untid=26699

Sluzki,​ ​C.​ ​E.​ ​(2016).​ ​Proxemics​ ​in​ ​Couple​ ​Interactions:​ ​Rekindling​ ​an​ ​Old​ ​Optic.​ ​Family​ ​Optics,

55​(1),​ ​7-15.​ ​ ​Retrieved​ ​from

http://web.a.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=1&sid=97297fd2-3233-4cac-9ff6-4b

7180cc4779%40sessionmgr4008

Link​ ​to​ ​Artifact

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaSzIiaBidE