The 4 touch zones
Practitioner development
The 4 touch zones
Proxemics
The anthropologist Edward T. Hall developed the theory of proxemics, which explores how people use and perceive space in various social and cultural contexts. He coined this word in the early 1960s.
Proxemics is the amount of space people prefer to have when engaging in conversation with others.
There are typically four zones / spaces that you will work within.
The public zone / space
The social zone / space
The personal zone / space
The intimate zone / space
Listen here
The 4 proxemic zones or spaces
Public space
12 feet or more
Beyond 12 ft (3.6 m) from an individual.
This area is considered part of the public realm, where formal or more public interactions take place. The public space is where individuals engage in communication that is more impersonal.
Social space
4 feet to 12 feet
From 4 ft (1.2 m) to 12 ft (3.6 m) away from an individual. This is characterized by a level of formality in interactions and is considered an intermediate space between personal and public space.
Personal space
1 1/2 feet to 4 feet
The physical distance individuals prefer to maintain between themselves and others during social interactions. The personal space space typically ranges from 1.5 ft (0.5 m) to 4 ft (1.2 m) from an individual.
Intimate space
Contact to 11/2 feet
The space closest to an individual, typically ranging from physical contact to about 1.5 ft (0.5 m). This zone is characterised by close physical proximity and is reserved for individuals with whom the person shares a high level of trust, familiarity, and intimacy.