Proxemics Dealing With COVID-19

 

In the world of design, there is something proxemics. Stated by Meriam-Webster proxemics is, “The study of the nature, degree, and effect of the spatial separation individuals naturally maintain (as in various social and interpersonal situations) and of how this separation relates to environmental and cultural factors. Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, 1999). Proxemics is important for our day-to-day living, comfort, and refuge. The timeline of proxemics has changed quite a bit due to COVID-19. This drastic change was widely different from pre-covid, to during covid, and to post-covid.

Before COVID-19 took effect across the nation, no one took notice of how close others were to them, and that they never properly cherished the closeness of their friends and loved ones. We were used to others being in our public, social, personal, and intimate bubbles. Told by Elle Hunt, “Pre-pandemic, I didn’t really distinguish between a hug from a loved one and a bodily restraint. My reluctance to be embraced was well known to friends and family, and immediately obvious to anyone who tried. (Hunt, 2021)”. We never had to worry about who was to close, or who is sick, or is this person enough distance away from me. Proxemics and social was used before COVID, but rarely thought of.

           During COVID-19 proxemics and our social bubbles, gradually changed as COVID was rising. When COVID reached its worse what we knew our proxemics and social bubbles were no longer the same. National Library of Medicine stated, “Since early 2020, “social distancing” recommendations aiming to reduce transmission of the COVID-19 virus have influenced how far people stand from each other in many public settings. These consciously adopted distances (usually 6 feet in the US, and 2 meters elsewhere) are much larger than those generated by the intrinsic brain mechanisms involved in personal space regulation (e.g., 50–100 cm) (di Pellegrino and Làdavas, 2015, (Holt et al., 2022) 90”. With these health and safety regulations from the CDC, our proxemics and social bubbles have went out the window. For our proxemics we had measure how far six feet is away from others. This is done by arm measurements, object measurements, or signage to guide where to or walk. Proxemics was heavily restricted and void. Social distance, avoidance, and isolation made us lose connections with ourselves and others. The only thing we were worried about was safety for yourself and loved ones and how far I am away enough from other beings. This photo is of our six feet social distancing, installed for safety this was our proxemics in the pandemic, but it caused a lot of isolation.

           COVID-19 left a hefty impact on the nation, after such a long time. People have spent so long in isolation and fear, things have not went back to normal. People are still distancing themselves from others and staying at home while others were ready to leave their house to do things or travel. Even when people are out in the social environments they are avoiding closeness and touch from others. Proxemics when going out to eat they try to avoid others by sitting far away from others or sitting outside. Even avoiding sitting next to each other. Avoidance of communication and touch, the world is still isolated and living life through technology. Here is a picture that I took after covid went down and we were able to go and do things and travel again. There was quite a bit of people that was traveling to this same destination, still hesitant with their the proxemics and social bubbles and also still wore masks for protection and safety.

           Pre-Covid, during covid, and post covid had different impacts on proxemics and on spatial bubble. The nations proxemics and spatial bubble was something to be thought of as a threat before COVID-19. Now these two things are something that people fear and are hyper aware of. Across the nation people are living in fear and worry what will happen if things go back to normal. Everyone is dealing with grief and trauma from having no social interaction and the sickness and death of loved ones. No one knows if things will ever go back to normal. If proxemics and social bubbles will ever be something not to worry about.

Reference List:

di Pellegrino G., Làdavas E. (2015). Peripersonal space in the brain. Neuropsychologia 66, 126–133. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2014.11.011 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar][Ref list]

Guardian News and Media. (2021, May 14). Pre-pandemic I embraced personal space. now I want to keep friends close. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/may/14/pre-pandemic-i-embraced-personal-space-now-i-want-to-keep-friends-close

Holt, D. J., Zapetis, S. L., Babadi, B., Zimmerman, J., & Tootell, R. B. H. (2022, September 14). Personal space increases during the COVID-19 pandemic in response to real and virtual humans. Frontiers in psychology. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9515568/

Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Proxemics. In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. Retrieved November 12, 2024, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/proxemics

Will social distancing have a lasting impact on “personal space”? Mass General Advances in Motion. (n.d.). https://advances.massgeneral.org/radiology/article.aspx?id=1361