Personal Space

Personal space was an idea first developed by German born Swedish psychologist David Katz in 1937. It is very often describes as an â€Å"emotionally charged bubble of space which surrounds each individual† or alternately â€Å"Personal space is the region surrounding a person which they regard as psychologically theirs. Most people value their personal space and feel discomfort, anger, or anxiety when their personal space is encroached.† On the other hand, some research suggests that the personal space bubble is not circular, but elliptical and so we can tolerate people coming closer to us at the side than front or behind.The 4 stages of a person’s Personal SpaceThis is a Proxemics Theory, which had been investigated by Edward T Hall in 1959, who describes a person’s personal space to be in 4 layers;Intimate distance for embracing, touching or whispering Close phase – less than 6 inches (15 cm) Far phase – 6 to 18 inches (15 to 46 cm)The clo sest distance is generally the domain of those who have an intimate relationship with each other, but also includes situations where the social rules allow contact, for example in a wrestling match (Edward Hall distinguishes between near situations requiring body contact and far distances which require being very close but not in contact (whispering)). This distinction is rather artificial since whether contact occurs will depend on a variety of things such as the social and physical setting.Personal distance for interactions among good friends or family membersClose phase – 1.5 to 2.5 feet (46 to 76 cm) Far phase – 2.5 to 4 feet (76 to 120 cm)This zone generally reserved for good friends or intimate partners in a social setting; the near aspect is generally reserved for couples or very close friends, whereas, the far phase is used by acquaintances or simple friends.Social distance for interactions among acquaintances Close phase – 4 to 7 feet (1.2 to 2.1 m) Far phase – 7 to 12 feet (2.1 to 3.7 m)This is the zone where those who are not acquainted interact or where business transactions occur. The near distance would be used by those being introduced or for informal business transactions whereas the far phase would be reserved for more formal business processes.Public distance used for public speaking Close phase – 12 to 25 feet (3.7 to 7.6 m) Far phase – 25 feet (7.6 m) or more.It is subdivided into near phase such as the distance between a speaker and an audience, and the far phase being the distance for example between the public and an important public figure.This is an easy concept to understand; if anybody enters our bubble, then they are invading personal space.Invading Personal SpaceWhen somebody invades another person’s personal space it can make the person feel anxious, awkward, insecure, vulnerable, annoyed and uncomfortable simply because there is another person standing too close to them and makes t hem question the intensions of the invader.. The term â€Å"invasion† would generally only be used if the person â€Å"invading† it has not earned their place in one of the four layers. There are actually many psychological and physical effects that are activated when a person is getting too close to another and they cause people to behave a little different than usual, for example:Extreme self awareness – suddenly we forget how to act ‘naturally'.Limited movements and gestures.Reduced eye contact.Turning aside or away from the intruder.We'll usually immediately take a step back.Adopting a defensive position – folded arms, less smiles, frowning, tense posture.Stopping the conversation entirely.Factors that influence personal space:GenderMales interacting with other males require the largest interpersonal distance, Men are more territorial and aggressive by nature and will keep more distance from other men, but when it comes to women we will usually prefer to get a little closer. This is then followed by females interacting with other females, which requires a little less space and distance as compared to just two men, as investigated by Gifford in 1987. Women are also more sociable than men: they get social cues better, more emotionally expressive and are generally better than us men when it comes to emotional communication. It's only natural then that women will feel more comfortable being closer to each other than men. However it probably depends on the situation, or the relationship, or the age group and so on as well.CultureThis is perhaps the most important factor when it comes to investigating the difference in invasion of personal space. Hall (1959) identified the importance of cultural variation. He suggested that while all cultures use personal space to communicate, and tend to conform to the different categories, the size of the space within the categories varies across cultures. Hall also identified the essential is sue in inter-cultural difference as the tendency to interpret invasions of personal space as an indication of aggression.Some international examples of this are: ‘Distant' cultures (northern Europe, US, and many other westerns cultures) tend to keep more personal space and use less touching than other more ‘warm' cultures. Asian cultures are characterized as more accommodating and accepting attitudes when it comes to personal space, the theory says it's due to more crowded living conditions. Other cultures including south Europe, Middle East and South American's are considered to be more ‘warm' by nature – touch and close proximity are more welcomed and socially accepted. Age- Some evidence suggests that personal space gets bigger as we grow older (Hayduk, 1983). Children tend to be quite happy to be physically close to each other, something which changes as awareness of adult sexuality develops. In addition the gender difference does tend to also appear at this time.StatusStatus has a huge effect on your personal space size and demand. First of all, like the alpha male of the pack, the higher the status the more space is considered to be one’s (no surprise that the first class seats are bigger and have more space per individual!). Status also affects the size of the territory that is required. Just Like the kings of old owned a huge palace – not because they needed 20 bedrooms and an Olympic swimming pool, but because it showed the measure of their power and influence. In modern days we have the equivalent mansions of the rich and famous to demonstrate their wealth and rich lifestyle.PersonalityThere is some evidence of personality difference but effects here need to be treated with caution given the situational dependence of traits. Extraverted and gregarious persons tend to require smaller personal space, while cold and quarrelsome people require a larger interpersonal distance (Gifford, 1982).Urban vs. RuralThe amount of personal space someone needs is relative to the population density of where they live, for example, in sparsely populated areas people get more space than in densely populated areas; country people are used to live in a vast and mildly populated areas while city dwellers are more used to crowding. This means that city dwellers will usually have a smaller personal space than country people due to this habit of density.The distance someone extends his/her arm to shake hands gives us a clue whether he/she is from a rural or urban area. People from the city tend to have an 18-inch bubble which allows the hands to meet in neutral territory. People brought up in a town with a small population have a space bubble of up to a meter. People from rural areas tend to stand with their feet firmly planted on the ground and lean forward for the handshake, whereas a city dweller will step forward to greet you. People raised in remote areas might require an even greater Personal Space, which cou ld be as wide as 6 meters. They prefer to wave rather than shake hands.Case StudiesStudy 1- Felipe & Sommer 1966AimTo examine the effects of the invasion of personal space Method- Research was carried out in a public library amongst people of similar cultural backgrounds who were sitting alone. These people were split into two groups: 1) Those where the confederate approached them, sat in the chair next to them and moved the chair closer to them. 2) Those where the confederate approached them and sat in the next-but-one chair.ResultsWhen someone came and sat in the chair next to them and moved the chair closer to them, 70% of the lone people left within half-an-hour. When someone came and sat in the next-but-one chair only 13% of the lone people left within half-an-hour. Conclusion- People found this invasion of their personal space disruptive. Researchers also noted that those whose personal space had been invaded moved their chair, put ‘barriers’ up such as books and changed their body position to move away.Evaluation of this study:StrengthHas high ecological validity since it was conducted in a public place. Weakness- This study used people from a similar background and hence may only be applicable to those sorts of people- this study cannot be generalised.Case Study 2- Sommer 1969AimTo examine whether there are cultural differences in the use of personal space Method- Researchers observed groups of Arab people and groups of white English people in conversation. Results- The comfortable distance for conversation for Arab people was under 1 m, whereas for white English people the comfortable distance was between 1 m and 1.5 m. Conclusion- Different cultures are comfortable with different amounts of personal space.Evaluation of this study:StrengthExplores how culture affects somebody’s personal space and hence raises awareness of how different cultures have various tolerance levels (when it comes to personal space). This study also raises awareness to people of different cultures when they are visiting other, culture rich countries. Weakness- The study was conducted a long time ago and due to the many revolutions and acceptances between cultures in today’s day, the results and findings may not be as accurate now as they were then. This poses questions about whether and how time has affected personal space within the different cultures, and would possibly need a new experiment to be conducted, to update the results.Examples of invading personal space:Inviting a teacher into a student’s personal space when their help is needed at school/in class for example to help solve a problem; this relation is always a professional relationship. When caught fighting and stopped, some kids like to tease the other party with a simple trick- they reach out with their hand and almost touch the other kid (or even worse, stuck the palm in front of their face), then they say something like â€Å"I don't touch you†. I t's actually an invitation for a fight, without taking responsibility for starting it, because it's impossible not to respond to this kind of irritation.If you'll meet your favorite movie star, you will welcome his company and even his touch; even though he's almost a complete stranger to you. But it won't go the other way around- it will be highly inappropriate to get too close to that star without a clear invitation to do so. You'll probably keep a distance from your boss (probably the same one from the previous example) during work, but on fishing at trip together some of the social borders will fall down, and you'll feel more comfortable being in closer distance. However, when you'll get back to work again, you'll retain the appropriate workspace between you.

The Quality Drag on China's Car Industry Term Paper

The Quality Drag on China's Car Industry - Term Paper Example By providing the example of Hyundai, this article tries to establish the fact that the carmakers, especially the domestic Chinese carmakers, have no choice but to focus on quality in order to achieve sustainable success. Chinese automobile companies must shift their focus from higher market share to better quality by making significant investment in research and development for further improvement of quality of their cars. There are huge opportunities for these players to make improvement in the areas like handling, power train and ‘driving experience’. Having made all these points, one may ask if quality comes automatically by the mere fact that the need for quality is trumpeted to workers every now and then. The fact is that quality is earned and it must be earned methodologically. In most global jurisdictions as far as business is concerned, renowned companies and multinational corporations have relied on the basic principles of operations management to enforce and ensure quality among their workforce. It is not surprising therefore that in the article, the writer notes that â€Å"when the trade-off is between higher sales or greater profits, their instinct is to go for sales, often at the expense of profits† (Lubo, 2012). In the words of McNamara (2011), â€Å"operations management focuses on carefully managing the processes to produce and distribute products and services.† It basically entails the practice of using what you have to achieve what you want. The most important factor however is that in determining wha t you want to achieve, the needs and expectations of the customer must stand out (Dodge, 2005).

Analyze the business environment of the China Essay

Analyze the business environment of the China - Essay Example Each of these forces is altering the business environment in China while creating new opportunities for multinational and national firms. Understanding the changes that are associated with the business environment of China also helps to define how businesses can collaborate with the country while using the current system, culture and expectations that are a part of the country. More important, there is the ability to understand the global alterations that are a part of the business environment in China and how this is constructing innovative measures for expansion and new products that can be used within the country. The main concept that is applied to the business environment in China is based on the divisions of regionalism as well as the closed environment that is a part of the nation. Even though there are several components that are pushing the country toward globalization within the market, there are also several components and regulations that are causing the environment to remain closed. The flow and allocation of capital, human labor in different regions and structural changes in different regions have all influenced the environment and the expectations among different business leaders. For those in China, this is creating specific measures within the economy as well as from the expectations that are a part of the business environment (Xiaolu, Gang, 1, 2004). The economics and expectations that are within China are not only a proponent of the environment because of the factors that influence business. Government expectations and the institutional environment have also led to specific expectations that are within the community. Each of these can carry a negative or positive influence both nationally and internationally and create a change in the firm value that is a part of different environments. The changes that

Assignment 1: Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Tasks of HR Managers - Essay Example It covers numerous areas of the human resource like recruitment, performance, and compensation among others. Designing HR strategies refer to formulating ideas, which will make an organization achieve its goals (Graham, 2010).   A Human Resources manager, director, or generalist plays many roles in an organization (Leatherbarrow, 2010). Basing on the size of the company, these HR jobs, might have overlapping duties. In larger organizations, the HR manager, generalist, or director has clearly defined and separate roles in HR management. These duties or responsibilities bring extra responsibility and authority in the hands of the HR manager, then the director, and eventually, the Vice President who might lead several departments such as the administration. HR managers, and occasionally HR directors, oversee numerous different departments, which are each led by specialized or functional HR staff such as the compensation manager, the training manager, or the recruiting manager. Human R esource managers are supporters of both the company and the persons who work for the company. Therefore, a talented HR professional conveys a constant balancing performance to meet both needs productively (Martin, 2010). Therefore, HR managers should have full choice in implementing and designing HR strategy. There is an ever-present jeopardy that the idea of strategic HRM can become somewhat nebulous, meaning pleasant to have but difficult to realize. The risk of creating a rhetoric or reality gap is heightened. Broad and habitually bland statements of strategic intent can readily be created (Mayo, 2011).  Ã‚  

Eating Habits of Students Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Eating Habits of Students - Essay Example The importance of a healthy lifestyle is inevitable. A good and healthy lifestyle starts with the diet one takes (Bailey, 2007 ). A blend of calorie intake together with fruit and vegetable consumption, as part of the diet, is advisable in ensuring a balanced diet. It helps prevent lifestyle-related disorders and diseases (MacClanccy, Henry, & Macbeth, 2009). Strict dietary guidelines help maintain a healthy diet and avoid the big gap in dietary divide experienced today by many people. The prevalent short lifespan emanates from the wrong choice of diet that end up affecting our health (Shepherd & Raats 2006). The young generation seems to pay little attention to the crucial topic of diet and health. Their choice of diet remains a secondary consideration in their responsibility for their health (Gullotta, Adams & Ramos 2005). Dietary disorders among young people are on the rise at an alarming rate. Instances of obesity in young people are increasing more than ever experienced. Accordi ng to Richards, 2007, guiding the young generation on issues of diet and health become essential. Topics such as the choice of food, awareness of a well balanced diet and the need to create attention to nutrition among by young people need further elaboration. Teaching the youth about diet and health, therefore, is indispensable an issue most governments must consider engaging (Berg 2002). Statistics in the United Kingdom show that several schools going students have poor knowledge of diet and health (McGinnis & Gootman 2006). Several students express low attention to nutrition. The choice of a better diet by students is poorly in several students (Glass 2009). In what areas many students pay less attention to, as far as diet and health are concerned, this report sorts to find out. The report discusses the important dietary areas overlooked by students and their extent of caution to their health. 2. Method In order to find out the eating habits of students, a survey was conducted wi th the help of an oral questionnaire. Total 30 randomly selected students in the UK took the interview in different learning institutions for the purpose of representing the student population. The group of respondents composed of students from different learning institutions at different stages of studies. The respondents consisted of fifteen boys and fifteen girls. The questionnaire (attached in the appendix) consists of different kinds of questions which chiefly build upon each other. The question types used is, for example, â€Å"yes/no†, multiple choice and ranking questions. In addition, some questions require the respondents stating their own opinion or telling more about their own experiences. While the questionnaire is not plainly segmented, it focuses on one major topic of health and diet. The questionnaire consists of seventeen (17) questions. The first question asks about the respondent’s gender. The second question asks about the frequency of meals taken b y students per day. The number of meals ranges from one (1) to four (4) per day. The third asks the opinion of the responder, whether he or she gets a balanced diet. It offers five options of response to the question. The fourth question inquires the respondent’s knowledge of a balanced diet. The fifth question asks the respondent about his or her preferred meal.

Self Evaluation Personal Statement Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

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VLAN in todays enviroment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

VLAN in todays enviroment - Essay Example But when studied further both LANs and VLANs it serves more than interconnection: personal computer networks to backend networks or even storage area networks. And in most cases, the purpose of a LAN is a combination of many (Stallings, 2007). The common LAN configuration is one composed personal computers. This type is almost present in all organizations no matter the size is. The main reason for this may be because of lower cost and simpler topology. For smaller organizations, this type of network is perfect since it serves its purpose of connectivity without compromising budget and ease of use and maintenance. Another purpose of the network is for backend networks. Now this is more complex and is more commonly seen in bigger organizations. Backend networks serves as a connection between mainframes, super computers and mass storage devices. This implies that with a limited space and less equipment, the network is able to provide fast and reliable data transfer. This is essential for VLANs for companies that provide data services. The same applies to Storage area networks. With these functions, it is not surprising that the topology of the network will also grow more complex. If it were a simple LAN, there shouldn't be a problem. But since a VLAN involves more strategic planning, a lot more effort should be made. Although the physical location of the entities connected is not considered in the planning, how they are connected to each other can be pain staking. The interoperability of these entities can also cause errors. It is necessary that they operate on the same protocol. Existing hardware may not operate with newer ones or equipment from different manufacturers may clash. Based on the above disadvantages, it can be said that managing such network is a lot difficult than a simple LAN. Except for the geographical location, the hardware used for VLANs are not that different from a LAN, although there are routers and switches designed specifically for VLANs. Cisco calls these switches Catalyst. There are also route switch modules for this purpose. Some of the switches have built-in support in software and hardware to do inter-VLAN routing. With inter-VLAN routing, no external device, modules, or daughter cards are required (Cisco). Switches are more commonly used because they are simpler compared to that of a router which functions more like a connection to the internet or a WAN (Tyson, 2009). Security is improved by using switches with built in layer 2 protections such as hardware firewalls. This is then supported by it software counterpart. In the case of connecting several VLANs to each other, routers and bridges can be used. Network switches operate at the layer two or the Data Link Layer of the OSI model. The layer two is the one responsible to provide the means to transfer data between network entities. This makes it vulnerable to attacks by hackers and the like. LANs often have confidential and mission-critical data moving across (Tomasi, 2004). This is easily intercepted since it is right next to the physical layer of the network. VLANs have the advantage to making the network more secure since it segments the network into distinct broadcast groups (Long). Since the information is no longer sent to all when broadcasted, the probability of interception is reduced. In context of the protocols used for VLAN, there are several to choose