On Thursday afternoon, former vice president and potential presidential candidate Joe Biden released a video in which he discussed the importance of personal space. The dynamics of both social space and touching have been well explored by scientists. In the 1960s, American anthropologist Edward Hall laid out the basics of social space, based on field work in Europe, Asia and elsewhere . We each reserve around us a zone of about 18 inches — “intimate space,” he called it — for close friends and family. And “social space,” from 4 feet to 12 feet, is the appropriate orbit for strangers or new colleagues.

Source: New York Times April 04, 2019 20:02 UTC