5/29/21; Week 6, Response to "Personal Space Differences".

 

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 intruded. Allowing someone to enter personal space and entering somebody else's personal space are indicators of perception of those people's relationship. An intimate zone is reserved for close friends, lovers, children and close family members. Another zone is used for conversations with friends, to chat with associates, and in group discussions. A further zone is reserved for strangers, newly formed groups, and new acquaintances. A fourth zone is used for speeches, lectures, and theater; basically public distance is that range reserved for larger audiences.

Although it’s important that Teachers recognize the necessity of a strong behavior management plan, they must also be aware of how culture influences personal interactions. This is especially when we consider that Teachers often come from different cultural backgrounds than those of their students. Without an adequate knowledge and understanding of how culture affects student behavior, a Teacher might misinterpret a student’s actions.

For example, a Teacher is talking to a student. The Teacher comes from a culture in which it is considered respectful to make eye contact when being spoken to by an adult. Jordan, on the other hand, has been taught that making eye contact is disrespectful to adults, and so he looks at the ground when his Teacher speaks to him. The Teacher’s understanding of culturally based responses is critical to interpret Jordan’s intentions. If the Teacher does not understand Jordan’s culture, a seemingly insignificant action like looking at the ground could be misinterpreted as defiance, apathy, or lack of respect and could result in the Teacher administering a negative consequence. This is the reason why it is vital to understand cultural differences regarding personal space.

And for you, how are space differences considered in your culture? Let me know in the comments!