CH 10 Social/Physical Environment

• Personal Space


  The space that divides the physical individual from the external outside environment
• Personal Space


  An invisible boundary that people build up around themselves for protection and comfort
• Intimate Zone

  • Reserved for family, close friends, and lovers
  • Keeps peoples focus 100% on one another
  • A sensitive zone for strangers
  • Accidental breaches can occur in crowded environments
  • Must NEVER be breached on purpose against a person's will
• Intimate Zone


  • LOVERS BEING INTIMATE
  • NON LOVERS STUCK TOGETHER IN CROWDED BUS NOT INTIMATE* BUT IN THE INTIMATE ZONE
• Personal Zone


  • 1.5-4 Feet
  • Where conversation occurs
  • Close enough so that WE don't need to yell
  • Not so close that we evade intimate spaces
• Personal Zone


  • Smaller groups show how effective the personal zone is for communication
  • Larger groups break into smaller groups for the same benefits
• Social Zone


  • 4-10 ft
  • Useful to meet strangers or new group members
  • Interactions at a distance provide the opportunity for more distraction
• Social Zone


  • A party is a good example of a social zone
• Public Zone


  • 10 feet or more
  • Communication is difficult because of the large distance between group members
  • Small recreation and leisure groups will probably not use public zones
• Public Zone


  • Examples include movie theaters and public lectures
• Remote Zone


  • No actual quantifiable amount of space
  • Characterized by no physical interaction amongst group members
  • Modern technology has made this type of interaction more common
  • If done improperly, can often lead to a misunderstanding between group members
  • Can fluctuate between formal and informal
• Physical Environment

  • Temperature
  • Noise
  • Weather
  • Altitude
  • Setting
• Temperature


  Physical conditions such as temperature can play vital roles in group dynamics. Ideal temperature is between 60-80 degrees fahrenheit.
• Completing tasks in extremely cold weather

  Can be quite difficult because the body is working harder to just stay alive
• Noise


  Vital factor in group dynamics. Groups operate best in quiet environments. Ideal sound is below 80 decibels.
• Loud noise


  Can prove quite the communication disruptor and reduce productivity significantly
• Weather


  An overarching aspect of group dynamics. Events maybe cancelled or more difficult to take part in when there is certain weather.
• Weather examples


  • Blizzards
  • Excessive sunshine
• Altitude


  Can cause physical reactions in the human body. At higher altitudes humans have a much harder time breathing and increased fatigue.
• Higher altitudes


  Result in a more difficult environment for task completion
• Setting


  The atmosphere of a room or space affects how the people or groups in them feel.
• Seating Arrangements


  • Conversational and cooperative
  • Competitive
  • Coactive
  • Cooperative
• Conversational and cooperative seating


  Participants can easily see each other and any documents they might need to share. People sat in corners can converse more freely because there is no intimidation.
• Competitive seating


  Sets a competitive tone. Greater distance = nonverbal cues are harder to see and therefore can be misinterpreted.
• Coactive seating


  Effective for tasks but not conducive for relationship building. Not much interaction.
• Cooperative seating


  Less effective because individuals cannot see each other or the documents at the same time. Can still work together just not as easily as corner seats. Not as conducive for conversation.
• Power/Head-of-the-table effect


  Typically the person at the head of the table is attributed power and status. Most leaders would sit here to be able to easily influence others.
• Power/Head-of-the-table effect examples


  • Common in most families with having either parent at the end of the dinner table
  • In recreation, leisure, and experiential education settings it is common for there to be chairs and no table. No power position, more intimate setting, circular is more neutral.
• Group Space


  Team members are able to trust each other and can work collectively. Within this time individuals in the team are able to provide support to one another along with being able to collaboratively work each other and can active listen within the environment.
• Types of group territories

  • Primary territories
  • Secondary territories
  • Public territories
• Primary territories


  • Areas like a sports stadium, they have control of who is allowed in and the group makes sure to take care of this location as they have a long term interest in doing so
• Secondary territories

  • Much less structured group visit these places regularly but they do not have any ownership or precedence in those spaces they could be used by many groups and will function on a first come first serve basis
• Public territories


  • Places that a group might only visit once but while they are there they have authority over the area until they leave
• Primary Territory Examples

  
  

  Family Home: Members of the family feel a strong sense of ownership and belonging. It's where they gather, share meals, and create memories together.

  Work Desk/Office: They personalize it with photos, decorations, and items that reflect their personality, creating a sense of ownership and belonging.
• Secondary Territory Examples

  
  

  Local gym: for individuals who regularly work out there. They may develop a sense of familiarity and comfort with the space and the people who frequent it.

  Local Library: they spend significant amounts of time studying, reading, or working on projects. While shared with others, they may develop a sense of ownership over their favorite study spot or reading area.

  Shopping Mall: groups who visit them regularly for shopping, dining, or entertainment. While shared with others, they may develop preferences for certain stores or areas within the mall.
• Public Territories Examples

  
  

  Public Transportation: buses, trains, and subways

  Streets and sidewalks

  Libraries

  Beaches

  Schools
• Benefits of Territories

  • help create group identity and are often a source of pride for those individuals
  • They enhance feelings/boost self-esteem along with feeling connected with other individuals in your team
  • Provides a huge sense of comfortability and belonging because they feel secure in the space that they are in
• Problems

  • When put into groups, conflict usually arises.
  • Territory creates problems for the group.
• Physical Environment


  Everything around us, that we can see, touch, and interact with (land, weather, air, water, plants, animals and buildings)
• Social Environment


  • It's about the people and the communities we live in
  • How we interact with others, our jobs, laws and the way our society works