Body Size as Implied Threat: Effects on Personal Space and Person Perception

Abstract

Following ethological theory, it was hypothesized that personal space and person perception would reflect implied threat in the form of “territorial sets” and body-size variables. 90 male undergraduates were randomly assigned to six treatment groups in a 2 (size of object person) × 3 (levels of threat) × 2 (approach or be approached) design. Personal space was not significantly influenced by the treatments, but strong findings emerged from the person perception data. An operational measure of “psychological advantage” based on ratings of the object minus self-ratings on aggression, strength, and muscularity showed both body-size and threat effects. Generally, the large object person increased his advantage over the subject as threat increased, while the opposite was true with respect to the small object person.