I have this thing with personal spaces and how close people can get without me feeling uncomfortable. I allow some people touching privileges when I feel secure they are not a threat to me, or when they are people I like. However, sometimes I don’t even shake hands with friends, so I’m still not into the physical contact thing.

After some research into the psychology of this, I found some information on proxemics. Proxemics was introduced by anthropologist Edward T. Hall in 1959 to describe set measurable distances, including social distance, between people as they interact. Social distance between people is reliably correlated with physical distance, as are intimate and personal distance, according to the following delineations:

* Intimate distance for embracing, touching or whispering
o Close phase – less than 6 inches (15 cm)
o Far phase – 6 to 18 inches (15 – 45 cm)

* Personal distance for interactions among good friends
o Close phase – 1.5 to 2.5 feet (45 – 75 cm)
o Far phase – 2.5 to 4 feet (75 – 120 cm)

* Social distance for interactions among acquaintances
o Close phase – 5 to 7 feet (1.5 – 2.1 m)
o Far phase – 7 to 12 feet (2.1 – 3.6 m)

* Public distance used for public speaking
o Close phase – 12 to 25 feet (3.6 – 7.5 m)
o Far phase – 25 feet (7.5 m) or more

According to Hall, factors like culture and gender would affect how these distances are observed. Some cultures allow males and females a closer social distance before both can be classified as intimate. Proxemics also can include the distance between immobile objects (i.e. walls), or behaviors between people engaged in conversation.