Effect of Stigmatizing Conditions on the Use of Personal Space

Expectation that the ascription of epilepsy to a stranger will result in less proximate interaction than in the case in which epilepsy is not ascribed to the stranger is supported and degree of eye contact was found not to differ for stigmatized and non-stigmatized interactions.

Abstract

Two studies examine the use of personal space by persons in interactions involving stigmatized individuals. In the first, responses on a figure-placement task and on an attitude questionnaire are compared. In the second, interactions involving a person believed to have epilepsy are examined in regard to both initial interaction distance and eye contact. The expectation that the ascription of epilepsy to a stranger will result in less proximate interaction than in the case in which epilepsy is not ascribed to the stranger is supported. Degree of eye contact, however, was found not to differ for stigmatized and non-stigmatized interactions.