OF STATUS AND SUITS: PERSONAL SPACE INVASIONS IN AN ADMINISTRATIVE SETTING

Abstract

The present experiment sought to determine if status would affect avoidance of personal space invasions. The drinking behavior of male passersby at a water fountain in an administration building was recorded by a female observer. Either a low status, high status or no confederate stood near the fountain. The results showed that there was a significantly lower rate of drinking 'at a water fountain when a high status confederate stood nearby than when no confederate was present.