The Role of Seating Position in Group Interaction: A Review, with Applications for Group Trainers

Abstract

Experimental research relating seating position to group interaction was critically reviewed. Studies have found that persons in central seating positions were able to maintain eye contact with the most group mem bers, thereby enhancing their ability to interact with the group and emerge as the leader. Tasks requiring interpersonal communication were associated with the use of close seating arrangements, and tasks requir ing independent activities were associated with distant seating ar rangements. Research on affiliative relations found that physical close ness enhances friendship formation and is a reliable sociometric index of friendship choices within groups. Final discussion centered on the prac tical implications of these findings for the group training session. It was stressed that group trainers learn to alter the seating positions of mem bers in order to facilitate the attainment of group goals.