Social Facilitation Effects via Interpersonal Distance

Summary

A review of the proxemic literature suggests that violations of interpersonal distancing norms may increase arousal. The present study attempted to integrate this finding into a social facilitation framework. It was proposed that if distancing violations are associated with greater arousal, then close interpersonal distances may increase the arousal produced by the presence of a coactor and intensify the behavioral and physiological effects expected within the social facilitation paradigm. Three interpersonal distances between a coacting female confederate (C) and the Ss (36 male and 36 female undergraduates) were manipulated within a 3 (close, moderate, and far interpersonal distances) by 2 (sex of S) design; a single control group without the presence of the C was also included. Behavioral performance on a hidden-word task, a physiological measure of arousal, and several self-report measures were the main dependent variables. Results indicated a consistent pattern of sex by distance interactions across behavioral and self-report measures. Males were consistently more positive in their ratings under moderate interpersonal distances, whereas females were more positive under close and/or far distances. This interaction was interpreted in terms of the goal orientation in the task situation of males and females and the relevant information provided by violation of interpersonal distancing expectations.