Cultural Force: Space
The cultural force of Space is another widely studied aspect of culture with broad implications around personal and group interactions. All people are culturally programmed to find comfort or…
The cultural force of Space is another widely studied aspect of culture with broad implications around personal and group interactions. All people are culturally programmed to find comfort or discomfort in the proximity of people and the arrangement of objects. How we use space, the area around us or the area we work or live in, is largely influenced by our cultural norms. The cultural anthropologist, Edward T. Hall said, “Virtually everything that a man is and does is associated with the experience of space...People reared in different cultures live in different sensory worlds.”
When it comes to cultures and Space, it may be important to note the following points:
Humans have a set of invisible boundaries around them defining personal and public space, as well as different expectations and comfort around the arrangement of things and the use of common space.
These boundaries, arrangements and use of common space are different from culture to culture. Different cultures operate by different rules of Space.
Individuals typically don’t know the rules of Space explicitly, but are involuntarily subjected to them.
Thus when dealing with people with other rules, use of Space often gives different messages than either the sender or receiver intends.
While scholars have identified many ways to measure and identify the norms of cultures around the aspect of Space, for our mapping exercise, we will focus on the extremes represented by the continuum Distant and Close. Assessing these tendencies will let us know your comfort level for the proximity of people when interacting and how objects arranged in space may be influenced by your culture.
Continuum:
Individuals all live by unwritten rules of Space. These rules define one's comfort level regarding the proximity of people when interacting, the use of Space, as well as the arrangement of objects within Space. Although most people cannot specifically explain their own rules of space, everyone knows when the rules are being violated. People send and receive unspoken messages through the use of Space. If understood, this force can be a powerful communication tool, but if not understood, it can be a source of problems, especially when crossing cultures.
The following is a general description of Distant and Close attitudes towards Space. Remember these are the extremes. Most cultures and people probably fall somewhere in between, but you will usually find a “norm” with a tendency to one extreme or the other.
Distant and Close
The following tendencies have been identified as possible attitudes, perceptions and actions of people from cultures on each extreme of the continuum (As viewed from someone on the other extreme).
Distant Extreme Cultures
Tend to have set protocol seating arrangements in meetings (Can control proximity)
Furniture is not to be moved in offices
Tendency to have more private work spaces
Avoid physical contact when communicating
Space tends to be organized and controlled
Often considered more formal in protocol
Close Extreme Cultures
Have a tendency to stand very close when communicating (very narrow range between intimate and personal/social bubbles)
Are considered very physical in their associations and communications (touching, hugging, kissing on cheek)
Tend to be flexible with the arrangement of objects within rooms (space)
Office space may be open and shared
Furniture may be mobile and have no set (or flexible) arrangement
Space is used and not considered ownedCultural Intelligence Series:Cultural Intelligence: What is it and why it is important?Cultural Mapping: What is it and what does it tell me?Cultural Force: TimeCultural Force: SpaceCultural Force: ThinkingCultural Force: Work PrioritiesCultural Force: RelationshipsCultural Force: Communication
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