The Intriguing Science of Personal Space: What It Reveals About Us

Exploring the links between personality, culture, attraction, and our use of space.

Photo by Ioana Cristiana on Unsplash

Have you ever wondered how close you would sit to a stranger on a couch? Surprisingly, the answer could reveal more about your personality than you think. A recent study involving over 400 participants explored the connection between personality traits and personal space preferences.

In the study, participants interacted with strangers, engaging in activities such as playing rock-paper-scissors. Following this interaction, researchers observed seating choices on a couch (Hebel & Rentzsch, 2022). They found that individuals with higher scores in the “Big Five” trait of agreeableness tended to sit closer to the other person. Additionally, those perceived as more open and extroverted by their interaction partners also preferred closer seating arrangements.

Personal space preferences can also be influenced by gender and age. For example, women generally maintain a greater distance from friends or strangers, and older adults prefer increased distance from others (Sorokowska et al., 2018).

Cultural factors also play a significant role in personal space preferences. In a study involving nearly 9,000 participants from 42…