[Personal space as a function of eye-contact and spatial arrangements of a group]

Two experiments were conducted on personal space as a function of eye-contact (Exp. I) and spatial arrangements of a group(Exp. II). In experiment I, interpersonal distances were measured using 30 female students in three eye-contact conditions in which subjects wore semi-dark sun-glasses, mirror glasses or no glasses. In experiment II, thirty-six female students served as subjects, and three subjects formed a group and stood abreast (arrangement A), then the middle person took one step forward or backward (B, C) against an approaching male stranger. The stop-distance technique was used for both experiments. (1) As the intensity of eye-contact was reduced, smaller personal space was required for subjects to feel comfortable. (2) Significantly larger space was required for subjects who stood outside (A, B) of group-shared space than inside (C).