Have you ever noticed how many different unspoken rules we have about space? In every different situation we have a different set of rules. Who came up with the distance between an ATM user and the person waiting to use it? I know it’s not the same rule for two strangers in a elevator. What about the space between people in making a line to order food. Too close to the next person or too far will create some tensions with the people around you.

Do you notice how people feel uncomfortable if you are talking to them within a certain close distance? Now take a step back and notice how cumbersome it is if you have the same conversation from a greater distance. The space between us and the environment changes by situation, relation and culture. The rules are referred to as social norms.

Social norms are a set of rules of acceptable behaviors followed by a group. These rules can be implicit or explicit. In our case, we are referring to boundary norms. We all have boundaries. We protect them or relinquish them. When people are in love , they allow their partner to enter their personal space at will (get closer or farther). When we do not know people, we tend to be protective of our boundaries. In a professional environment, we protect our boundaries and make an effort not to intentionally break the other people’s space.

Next time you are at a party or ATM, notice the space between people.