Interpersonal distance (IPD) is a simple social regulation metric which is altered in autism. We performed a stop-distance paradigm to evaluate IPD regulation in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and control groups in a real versus a virtual environment mimicking in detail the real one. We found a bimodal pattern of IPDs only in ASD. Both groups…

This study utilize d direct observation to explore the relationship between nonverbal communication variables (immediacy and territoriality) and roommate satisfaction. Data were collected from 51 roommate pairs (N = 102) at a small liberal arts college. Participants were asked to engage in a discussion about a time they had to negotiate activities…

A large part of human communication is nonverbal, and the messages sent by gestures, proximity, and eye contact can mean quite different things in different cultures. Because today's classrooms are culturally very diverse, teachers need detailed information about nonverbal information and how it varies among the students' cultures. (Contains 19…

Culture connects people seamlessly with those who share their cultural backgrounds and divides them in often inexplicable ways from those who do not. Native culture is known largely at a tacit level, its values, assumptions, and beliefs so much a part of the people that they live them but do not see them. A cross-cultural experience can sometimes…

The importance of nonverbal communication is clear when you realize that some 90 percent of the total impact of a message can come from the nonverbal elements of that message. (Author)

Explores the efficacy of touch in the counseling situation by examining the importance of tactile communication in human development, the impact of socialization and cultural factors on the meanings of touch, and clinical and research evidence relevant to the use of touch in therapeutic settings. Suggests guidelines for the use of touch in…

Describes the development of a proxemics exercise from workshops conducted with school teachers and counselors (N=69). Concludes that territoriality involving human beings may be a far broader concept than has been previously thought. (LLL)

The results suggested group space boundaries increased with group size (from groups of one to two to four) if group members were strangers, but not if group members were friends. The only nonspatial variable found to correlate with boundary size was personal identity. (Author)

The nature of communication can be affected by the violation of private space. Types of personal space are defined. Observations are reported concerning the behaviors some adult basic education students display to define their need for personal space. Implications for the classroom are discussed. (Author)

Results of study of 256 adolescents and preadolescents randomly assigned to same-sex grade-level pairs in two social situations--a neutral situation and a "male-appropriate" athletic situation-- showed no differences between sexes in overall amount of touching or proxemics, though girls smiled significantly more often than males. (CMG)

This booklet presents nine class activities dealing with nonverbal communication. Activities in the booklet deal with facial expressions, mimes, body language, "clothes talk," personal space, and mixed messages. Many of the activities in the booklet involve coloring or drawing on illustrations provided. (RS)

Investigated the idea of spatial arrangement as applied to married couples as a first step in the study of the diagnostic value of spatial relationships in family therapy. Showed that couples' space can be used to identify conflicted marital relationships and to differentiate between distressed and nondistressed couples on the basis of husbands'…

Tested the relevance of the personal space concept when applied to marital relationships. Married couples (N=24) completed five questionnaires. Results showed that the personal space concept did apply, i.e., distance between couples increased as marital quality decreased. A stop-distance measure discriminated between distressed and non-distressed…

Nonverbal communication is critical to the success of the communication process. Examines nonverbal techniques for enhancing communication: appearance, voice, body movement and posture, gestures, facial expressions, touch, and space. (LMI)

This booklet presents five activities that deal with nonverbal communication. The booklet outlines instructional objectives for the student: to describe nonverbal communication and identify at least three examples; to explain why the face is an important source of information; to recognize and describe environmental factors that influence…