Personal space and stimulus intensity at a Southern California amusement park.

Abstract

themselves from fearful others, and as a means of expressing liking or disliking of another. Another function seems to be the control of the intensity of stimulation received from others. It was proposed that Ss should regulate this stimulation by positioning themselves relative to particular others according to the intensity of stimulation these individuals provide. To test this hypothesis, male and female stimulus persons entered queues for attractions at an amusement park. It was found that Ss immediately behind them in line stood further away when the stimulus persons wore brightly colored clothes (high stimulus intensity condition) than when they wore more conservative clothing. Subjects similarly stood further away when the stimulus persons used perfume or after-shave lotion than when they used no scent. Sex differences observed in this situation are somewhat contradictory to earlier findings. The inconsistencies are discussed in terms of the normative constraints of the artificial and self-conscious laboratory setting as compared with the naturalistic situation used here.