A further look at equilibrium theory: Visual interaction as a function of interpersonal distance

Abstract

This paper presents a study that examined the relationship between visual interaction and interpersonal distance as it relates to an equilibrium theory of social interaction. Differential boundaries were found to exist for the effect of distance on five highly related male and female visual behaviors, exemplifying different overall equilibrium levels for the sexes. While males looked more as dis tance increased, females looked less after an intermediate distance of 6.5 feet. These data support a modified equilibrium model that posits that eye contact functions to regulate the comfort of an interaction and is also a response to the degree of interaction comfort; further, comfortable interaction distances promote eye contact and, more importantly, uncomfortable distances diminish it. Because women tend to be more oriented toward inclusive relationships, they are more comfortable at closer interaction distances and, hence, look more at these dis tances. At greater distance, however, they are more uncomfortable and, conse quently, look less.The role of visual behavior during social interaction has interest ed man from his earliest days, but only in the past decade have social scientists focused empirical attention on this mode of behavior (for a

Fathers show modifications of infant-directed action similar to that of mothers

“…Specifically, men maintain less personal space between themselves and other people than women do (Aiello, 1977), and the characteristics of the people men are interacting with have a greater influence on the amount of personal space men will allow their counterparts than on the amount of personal space women will allow (Pedersen & Heaston, 1972). It could be that this sex difference will be reflected in proximity and joint contact with a novel toy when an adult demonstrates the toy to a child.…”

The Unbearable Likeness of Being Digital: The Persistence of Nonverbal Social Norms in Online Virtual Environments

“…The effect of gender composition was significant, F [2,827] The effect of the covariate talk sum was also significant, F[2,827] ϭ 8.50, p ϭ 0.004, 2 ϭ 0.01. The correlation coefficient between talk sum and gaze sum was Ϫ0.08 (p ϭ 0.007).…”

The Effects of Facial Close-Ups and Viewers' Sex on Empathy and Intentions to Help People in Need

“…Given that men tend to have a more independent self-construal and women a more interdependent self-construal, it is not surprising to find that women often prefer closer interaction distance than men (Aiello, 1977;Camperio & Malaman, 2002) and react more positively to others within close physical proximity (Hai, Khairullah, & Coulmas, 1982;Ross, Layton, Erickson, & Schopler, 1973). 2 It follows that even though decreased interpersonal distance can induce higher levels of arousal among both men and women, they may label the same arousal state differently.…”

“…An accumulation of evidence suggests that people react 2 Even though women are more accustomed to intimacy with another woman than with another man, whereas men's demand for distance is more pronounced in interaction with another man than with another woman (Leibman, 1970), this does not necessarily challenge the notion that women in general prefer closer interaction distance than men. Indeed, studies have found that women in general are more comfortable at closer interaction distance than men regardless of the sex of the person with whom they interact (Aiello, 1977;Camperio & Malaman, 2002). to a person on the screen similarly to an actual person.…”