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Proxemics is a branch of psychologic study concerning the distance necessary between humans in order to create comfortable and non-threatening environments. Each person has their own perception of personal space and preferences vary across cultures; however the basic spatial zones for all people are somewhere along the lines of Intimate, Personal, Social and Public as displayed in this diagram:
The 2020 pandemic required a readjustment of these zones so the population would be slowing the transmission of COVID-19. The US government began to concern itself more with social distancing. The Guidance on Social Distancing at Work published by the Occupational Safety and Health administration states, "In workplaces where customers are present, mark six-foot distances with floor tape in areas where lines form," (OSHA, 2020)
As I'm sure we all remember clearly, this was a massive shift for public spaces across the globe; some of the results of this are still in place three years later, while others were phased out with the pandemic paranoia. Many of the preventative measures taken should have already been in place to protect populations in public, while other measures seemed virtually useless and entirely for performance.
The pandemic created an incredible market
boom for 'to-go', carside pickup, delivery, and contactless shopping. One of my favorite service developments that I will use for as long as I possibly can is grocery delivery. What started as a solution to get things I needed while sick at home, I realized, maintaining a consistent schedule to travel to, prepare for, and shop for likely an hour has been impossible in relationship to my school schedule. I use a delivery service as often as possible to avoid the task entirely and avoid the people. This service has been an impactful and lasting solution outside of a national emergency, and creates a more equitable society.
A failure of proxemic boundary techniques include the transparent screens/windows used at most service counters that were taken out of use as quickly as they were installed. Often in smaller businesses, these screens were solely plastic sheeting and sometimes just shower curtain liners suspended from the ceiling as a makeshift-barrier between employees and customers. Although these methods were well intended, it has little to no anti-bacterial affect because it does not eliminate contact or widen the distance between persons.
In retrospect, the COVID-19 pandemic reshaped our understanding of proxemics, forcing us to adapt our behaviors and environments to protect public health. As we continue to navigate the post-pandemic world, it is essential to consider the enduring changes in our spatial interactions and how these adaptations may shape our future interactions and environments. Proxemics will remain a vital area of study, reflecting our ongoing efforts to balance our innate need for human connection with the imperative of public safety.
References
Covid-19 guidance on social distancing at work. (n.d.). https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/publications/OSHA4027.pdf
Marquardt, Nicolai & Greenberg, Saul. (2012). Informing the Design of Proxemic Interactions. IEEE Pervasive Computing. 11. 14-23. 10.1109/MPRV.2012.15.
The MIT Press Reader. (2020, January 13). Proxemics 101: Understanding personal space across cultures. https://thereader.mitpress.mit.edu/understanding-personal-space-proxemics/
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