Every culture has a different set of standards, concerning what is appropriate and inappropriate behavior, in various social settings. Often, when our cultural orientation toward space is violated, we may have feelings of confusion or feel that we are being threatened. Individuals may not be able to immediately cope with space violations and may eventually ascribe a meaning to the behavior, which was not intended by the sender.
For the Unit 4 Homework read “The Critical Incident” below, then thoroughly answer the homework questions about the event.
The Critical Incident:
Jane was asked to represent her U.S. company at a conference that was to take place in Mexico City. Having just transferred to this Latin American country, she was understandably flattered that her boss would ask her to participate and excited that she would have the opportunity to see the city.
Everything went well, including traveling to the city and checking into the hotel, until the pre-conference cocktail party. At the party, Jane was approached by a young woman executive from a local firm who introduced herself as Dinorah. Immediately upon striking up a conversation, Dinorah began moving closer and closer toward Jane. It seemed that every time Jane moved away, Dinorah moved forward. After some time, Jane found herself against a wall unable to retreat any further. Dinorah kept her close distance. Having experienced enough discomfort, Jane curtly excused herself, returned to her room, and refused to attend future social functions.
* Adapted from Brislin, R. W., Cushner, K., Cherrie, C., & Yong, M. (1986). Intercultural Interactions: A Practical Guide (pp. 171-172, 186-187). Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.
Homework Questions:
Do you feel that Jane handled the situation well? Why or why not?
How do you think Dinorah might have felt as Jane backed away during the conversation?
What could Jane have done to make herself feel more comfortable? What could she have said to Dinorah?
How could Jane have nonverbally communicated to Dinorah that she needed more space during their conversation?
Have you ever interacted with someone, who wished to speak closer to you, than you felt comfortable? What was your perception of this individual’s behavior? How did you handle this situation?
