Theories of Nonverbal Behavior: A Critical Review of Proxemics Research

Abstract

Two central shortcomings are generally acknowledged concerning the literature on nonverbal behavior: the field lacks systematic theory, and it is a morass of conceptual and methodological problems. (See, for example, Birdwhistell, 1970; Duncan and Fiske, 1977; Edney, 1974; Evans and Howard, 1973; Harper, Wiens, and Matarazzo, 1978; Hayduk, 1978; Henley, 1973a, 1977; Kendon, 1975; Weiner and others, 1972.) The area is relatively young, spans a number of disciplines, and provides a rich variety of observations and ad hoc studies. But as in many new fields, the choice of variables is often eclectic-based more