Cultural differences and sex differences in personal space.

Abstract

Most of the literature reviewed in this study showed that there is a difference among cultures regarding the way people handle personal space. The hypothesis formulated was: There is no significant difference in handling personal space among American, Saudi Arabian and Iranian males and females. Ninety persons were the subjects for this study: fifteen American males and fifteen females; fifteen Saudi Arabian males and fifteen females; and fifteen Iranian males and fifteen females. The American group was obtained from three English classes at Emporia State University, Spring, 1977. Most of the Iranians were students at Emporia State University and the rest were living in Emporia. For the Saudi Arabian group ten males and ten females were either students at the University of Kansas or Saudians living in Lawrence and the rest were students at Emporia state University. The felt-board placement technique was the instrument used in this study to collect the data. Two ten-inch high male dolls and two ten-inch high female dolls and a two by three foot felt board were used. For statistical analysis, the three way (A x B x C) between subjects ANOVA was used to determine the significant differences. The analysis of data showed that significant differences existed between males and females in the distance maintained among the three doll combinations by subjects. A significant difference was also found between sex and culture. American males maintained more distance between the dolls than the other two groups. Generally, Saudi Arabian and Iranian distances were similar.