The effects of sex and dominance upon personal space

Abstract

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of differences in sex and dominance on personal space. Fourty male and 40 female students were divided into high- and low-dominant groups and assigned to a male or female approaching person. Interpersonal distance between a subject and the approaching person was measured at eight orientations around the subject's body. It was found that interpersonal distance decreased as the bodily orientation shifted from the front to the rear. Also, males’ personal space was greater than females*. Finally, the effect of dominance was not found except for two interactional effects. © 1981, The Japanese Psychological Association. All rights reserved.