Field study of the proxemic behavior of young school children in three subcultural groups

Observed the proxemic relationships of 210 interacting pairs of black, puerto rican, and white 1st and 2nd graders in school playgrounds. Interaction distance and directness of shoulder orientation (axis) were recorded. Middle-class white ss stood farther apart than lower-class black and puerto ricans. Sex differences among white ss in distance scores and culture and sex differences in axis scores were also found. Results suggest that proxemic patterns are acquired early in life and support the contention that differences between the dominant culture and other groups in the use of space are basic, with the qualification that sex roles may also influence proxemic behavior. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved).