ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on proxemics - the study of how space and distance structure communication. A number of variables influence our space management practices; prime among these are gender, age, personality, and culture. Unlike territory, our personal space is that invisible and variable bubble of space that we carry around with us from place to place. When people use boundary markers, such as fences or hedges or work cubicles, to establish their claim to a spatial area, theycreate a buffer zone that protects the space, distinguishing it from the space of others, and reserving it for own use. Fixed-feature space is characterized by unmoving boundaries. In contrast, semifixed feature space comprises moveable objects. There are three kinds of encroachment: a territorial violation, a territorial invasion, and territorial contamination. A prominent theory in identifying the influence of nonverbal communication on behavior is expectancy violations theory, a theory suggesting that people hold expectations for other's nonverbal behavior.
