Have you been irritated by someone standing too close in line, talking too loud or making eye contact for too long? Or, they may have 11 you with the loud music from their earphones, or by taking up more than one seat on a crowded subway car. You feel unhappy because your personal space has been violated.
According to scientists, personal space involves certain invisible forces imposed on you through all the 12 . For example, people may feel their space is being invaded when they experience an unwelcome sound, smell, or stare.
In certain situations such as in crowded subway cars or elevators, it is not always possible for people to keep their 13 distance from others. They learn coping strategies to deal with their discomfort. For instance, people often avoid eye contact with someone standing 14 them, or they pretend that these people are lifeless objects in their personal space. Given the opportunity, they may 15 to a corner, putting distance between themselves and strangers. Or, they may sit or stand equidistant from one another like birds on a wire.
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