Psychological Tension and Closeness to Others: Stress and Interpersonal Distance Preference

Summary

The prediction that increased tension would lead to a preference for greater distance from others was tested on 40 male and 40 female S s approached in eight natural settings of high or low tension and their distance preference measured. S s in the four higher-tension situations indicated a preference for significantly more distance. Self-reported tension was correlated significantly and positively with the distance preferred across all eight situations. There was no effect of sex.