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Diagram representation of personal space limits.

Credit: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported | WebHamster

Thou shall not transgress thy neighbor's personal space. It's among the most sacrosanct rules of social behavior. But how do these invisible bubbles of space surrounding each of us come to exist in the first place, and why does it feel so icky when they overlap?

First, how big are these bubbles? According to the American anthropologist Edward Hall, whose 1960s research on the topic still stands today, you're actually enveloped by bubbles of four different sizes, each of which applies to a different set of potential interlopers.

The smallest zone, called "intimate space," extends outward from our bodies 18 inches in every direction, and only family, pets and one's closest friends may enter. A mere acquaintance hanging out in our intimate space gives us the heebie-jeebies. Next in size is the bubble Hall called "personal space," extending from 1.5 feet to 4 feet away. Friends and acquaintances can comfortably occupy this zone, especially during informal conversations, but strangers are strictly forbidden. Extending from 4 to 12 feet away from us is social space, in which people feel comfortable conducting routine social interactions with new acquaintances or total strangers. Beyond that is public space, open to all.

Those are the average sizes of Americans' personal bubbles, anyway. According to Ralph Adolphs, professor of psychology and neuroscience at the California Institute of Technology, "It is important to keep in mind that personal space of course varies depending on culture and context, and that there are significant individual differences - so these numbers should just be taken to reflect the average." [ Infographic: A Day in the Life of the Average American]

Reaction of two people whose personal space are in conflict.

Credit: Public Domain

As we all know, cultural or individual differences in personal bubble diameters are all too often the cause of discomfort. (Take one step back, foreigners.)

But how do these personal bubbles arise? According to Adolphs, we begin to develop our individual sense of personal space around age 3 or 4, and the sizes of our bubbles cement themselves by adolescence. In research published in the journal Nature in 2009, Adolphs and his colleagues determined that the bubbles are constructed and monitored by the amygdala, the brain region involved in fear.

"The amygdala is activated when you invade people's personal space," he told Life's Little Mysteries. "This probably reflects the strong emotional response when somebody gets too close to us. We confirmed this in a rare patient with lesions to this brain structure: she felt entirely comfortable no matter how close somebody got to her, and had no apparent personal space."

Futhermore, he said, abnormal development of the amygdala may also explain why people with autism have difficulties maintaining a normal social distance to other people.

There are times when personal space intrusions are simply unavoidable, such as in a crowded subway car. How do we cope? The psychologist Robert Sommer suggested we do it by temporarily dehumanizing those around us, avoiding eye contact and pretending they're inanimate until the moment comes when we spot an escape route. After all, it's not uncomfortable to stand inches from a wall.

This story was provided by Life's Little Mysteries, a sister site to LiveScience. Follow Natalie Wolchover on Twitter @nattyover. Follow Life's Little Mysteries on Twitter @llmysteries, then join us on Facebook & .

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Thou shall not transgress thy neighbor's personal space. It's among the most sacrosanct rules of social behavior. But how do these invisible bubbles of space surrounding each of us come to exist in the first place, and why does it feel so icky when they overlap? First, how big are these bubbles?

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Back to the Future (3/10) Movie CLIP - Back in Time (1985) HD

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'Revisiting The Space Between'- Original Image

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'Revisiting The Space Between'- Original Image

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This video demonstrates how Frantic could be used to sow the different relationships between people.

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Chair Duets - Frantic Assembly (Feat. Ed Sheeran)

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Art is not a mirror with which to reflect reality but a hammer with which to shape it. Bertolt Brecht

The playwright Bertolt Brecht was born in 1898 in the German town of Augsburg. After serving as a medical orderly in the First World War and appalled by the effects of the war, he went first to Munich and then to Berlin in pursuit of a career in the theatre. That period of his life came to an end in 1933 when the Nazis came to power in Germany. Brecht fled and during this period the Nazis formally removed his citizenship, so he was a stateless citizen.

In 1941 Brecht became resident in the USA but returned to Europe in 1947 after appearing before the House Un-American Activities Committee. Ostensibly against communism , this committee also targeted intellectuals. By the time of his death in 1956, Brecht had established the Berliner Ensemble and was regarded as one of the greatest theatrical practitioners .

As an artist, Brecht was influenced by a diverse range of writers and practitioners including Chinese theatre and Karl Marx. The turmoil of the times through which Brecht lived gave him a strong political voice. The opposition he faced is testament to the fact that he had the courage to express his personal voice in the world of the theatre. He also had an original and inspired talent to bring out a dynamic theatrical style to express his views.

His most acclaimed work is Mother Courage and Her Children . Although it's set in the 1600s, the play is relevant to contemporary society and is often regarded as one of the finest anti-war plays. Fear and Misery of the Third Reich is Brecht's most overtly anti-fascist play. This work analyses the insidious way the Nazis came to power.

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Epic theatre and Brecht - Revision 1 - GCSE Drama - BBC Bitesize

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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Page 1of 11 Art is not a mirror with which to reflect reality but a hammer with which to shape it. Bertolt Brecht The playwright Bertolt Brecht was born in 1898 in the German town of Augsburg.

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1. a continuous area or expanse which is free, available, or unoccupied.

2. the dimensions of height, depth, and width within which all things exist and move.

3. position (two or more items) at a distance from one another.

4. be or become euphoric or unaware of one's surroundings, especially from taking drugs.

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1. at, into, or across the space separating (two objects or regions).

2. in the period separating (two points in time).

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Another aspect from this stimuli that we could look at is 'Time Travel' and the 'revisiting' the space and time between different centuries. This could look at a particular aspect of society and have it has changed over time. Also this could use techniques of Brecht to address the audience and make them aware of the time shift/travel.

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"Once the realization is accepted that even between the closest human beings infinite distances continue, a wonderful living side by side can grow, if they succeed in loving the distance between them which makes it possible for each to see the other whole against the sky." Rainer Maria Rilke

Apart from the strong bonds of family, those people we choose to enter into intimate relationship with have perhaps, the greatest influence and the most profound effect upon us throughout our life. In the best-case scenario these partners enhance our existence by their very presence; they are truly there for us "for better or worse," fully supportive, loving and encouraging, adaptable and flexible to meet life's changes and challenges.

But some intimate relationships are difficult, fraught with conflict and anxiety, and often test our patience, love, and fortitude to the limit. How often have you observed a relationship in which one person overshadows the other; where the needs and desires of one person require far more attention; where the personality is way too big to allow the other to comfortably stand beside it without getting crowded out?

Some people really are just simply bigger than life. Have you noticed people who need to "have the floor" or "hold court" most of the time, who turn the conversation around, using your thoughts and ideas, your conversation, to further their own cause? Or people whose dramatic postures and gestures scream, "look at me," a constant need, and sometimes, a cry, for attention.

Fortunately, we don't have to respond to these behaviors in dealing with most people. But imagine what it's like if we choose, knowingly or not, to live with someone who demands this kind of attention, who feels entitled to get whatever he or she asks for, and who places conditions on our behavior, insisting that we participate out of love and obligation in this high-maintenance exercise. Or worse, that the person we once thought was a certain way, well...turns out to be quite different than we had ever imagined or expected.

It's pretty much of a given that most of us will have at least one or two "learning experiences" before we settle down with someone who is on the same page with us. No reason to feel ashamed or embarrassed when you reflect back at those times in your life when you were just a little insane, or naïve, or just chalk it up to inexperience. While it's clear that experience is a great teacher, taking the "lessons learned" into any new relationship is the crucial next step.

If you don't leave old beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors behind they will inevitably come back to haunt you in the "new" people you choose. Simply put, you will find people who will allow you to repeat all of your old patterns, and as much as you may want to blame them for whatever doesn't work out, the bulk of the responsibility rests with you and your choices.

There's much to say about what it takes to have a healthy, satisfying relationship---and to keep it going. Here are a few of the essentials---the qualities of a good relationship.

Trust: According to Erickson's theory of the psychosocial stages of life, our first essential task involves trust vs. mistrust. It should be no surprise that our very first goal in life is to master trust since that is the basis for all of our relationships moving forward. For many of us our earliest experiences have been positive enough to allow us to adapt a trusting attitude. Some though, have had a harder time learning to trust, perhaps as a result of instability, inconsistency, invasion of boundaries, and even actual threat of harm or alienation. Mistrust can foster isolation and avoidance of intimacy.

As a corollary to Erickson's theory, every psychosocial task can be revisited and ultimately, healed. There is always the time, and the hope, as long as you are alive. But eventually the resolution of the conflict is required in order to learn to trust. Healthy introspection, a realistic and honest self-examination of your emotions, feelings, and beliefs, is essential on the way to discovering your own identity.

Before you can be intimate with another, you must become intimate with yourself. The goal is to learn to care for yourself first and foremost, to keep your most cherished values, to firmly set and support healthy boundaries, to be impeccable in your judgments and decisions, and to be unwavering about your purpose and mission.

Commitment: Once trust is established your focus shifts to a decision about whom you will invite to share the most intimate parts of your life; to those you will commit your full attention, time, and energy. This kind of commitment is reserved only for those people who have proven that they are capable of sticking around for the long haul and are ready, willing, and able to share themselves with you.

Respect: The word literally means "regard," "to look back at." Interesting, since most of us would probably say that respect has come to mean having a deep reverence for someone or something. And certainly, those with whom you are most intimate deserve this, as do you. But the origin of the word shows us something very different. Although respect is about "looking back at," reflecting on what has happened, when it comes to an intimate relationship it's about the mutual mirroring of emotions, feelings, and beliefs. Respect says, "What I see in you I hold as important as what I see in myself."

Communication: Good communication that is. This can mean any kind of transmission between people, including nonverbal. Sometimes, communication seems to be at cross-purposes. People are talking but not really listening; their own agenda is far too important to include, or even consider yours. Good communication is facilitated by---you guessed it---trust, commitment, and respect. We communicate in a healthy relationship for a common purpose; which also, by the way, is what the word actually means. We are trying to express how we feel and what we believe and need to do so in an environment that is safe, supportive, and accepting; one that is totally free of judgment, criticism, and alienation.

Rilke's quote creates a beautiful visual and sums up what a healthy relationship requires---the space to be yourself, first and foremost, the need to maintain your personal integrity, and the deep appreciation that it is the separateness, the distance between you and your partner that really creates the intimacy.

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"Once the realization is accepted that even between the closest human beings infinite distances continue, a wonderful living side by side can grow, if they succeed in loving the distance between them which makes it possible for each to see the other whole against the sky."

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'The Space Between'  song from Descendants

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'The Space Between'  song from Descendants

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This song indicates how the characters will always be there for each other,  regardless of their two worlds. This could be useful to look at to show how sometimes two contrasting worlds collide and friendships/relationships can be created.

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Dove Cameron, Sofia Carson - Space Between (from Descendants 2) (Official Video)

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This idea comes from the use of reflections in the picture. We could show how some people are transparent and will not be who you think they are (linking to dual-personalities). We could also take this idea and create a split personality for one person and show the many different people they could be- linking to the idea of the space between the real person and the personalities. We could then lead this to show how the persons actions link to different personalities.

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Split Official Trailer 1 (2017) - M. Night Shyamalan Movie

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This is another aspect that we could look at using this stimuli. We could do this by looking at the different relationships that people have- and possibly use Frantic Assembly techniques to demonstrate this. The space and proxemics between people are one very important thing within theatre as they can easily communicate a relationship to the audience.