Violation of Personal Space as a Function of Sex

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Abstract
Experimental conditions afforded 215 Ss the option of violation or nonviolation of personal space. Two elevator floor selection panels were available to the Ss, who were the regular occupants of a large downtown office building. In Experiment 1, either a male or a female confederate (C) positioned himself by one of the available panels. The results indicated an overall significant avoidance of personal space violation when possible. If the panel space was occupied by a male, both male and female Ss significantly avoided personal space violations. However, female Ss were less prone to avoid spatial violation of a female C. In Experiment 2, both panels were occupied at the same time. A male C occupied one panel and a female C occupied the other panel, thereby forcing the Ss to violate personal space. When violation of a C's space was unavoidable, male Ss chose to violate female space, while female Ss showed no significant preference.

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