Territoriality (nonverbal communication)
Encyclopedia
Territoriality is a term associated with nonverbal communication
that refers to how people use space to communicate ownership
/occupancy of areas and possessions . The anthropological concept branches from the observations of animal ownership behaviors. We can consider that this personal space is like a bubble that one doesn't want invaded.
An example of demonstrating territoriality might be the car size. Driving a large truck like the Ford F350 might be communicating that a value of owning a lot of space on the highway. However, driving a small car like the Ford Pinto, then might be communicating no need to occupy so much space. Another example is students as they sit in class. Some students like to spread their backpack and books out in a way to let other students know that they don't want others to sit next to them. These students obviously value having a lot of space that they don't have to share. On the other hand, some students keep their books and bags close to them, making others aware that they don't have a problem sharing the space around them with other students.
Territoriality can also be associated with states or nations. Government and social ideas are also associated with Territoriality. A nation state can establish common ideals amongst its citizens which lead to territoriality. Nationalism is an example of this. National pride, common religious practices, and politics all play a role in a state's territoriality.
An example of this would be the conflict in Northern Ireland. Ireland is a catholic nation and England is a Protestant one. Many Irishman don't want Northern Ireland to be apart of a non-catholic nation. Territory disputes in this area have been justified by religion. This is an example of how religion can play a strong role in territoriality.
According to author Julia T. Wood, "men go into women's spaces more than women enter men's spaces" . With this in mind, we can understand that men typically have a stronger sense of ownership and are more likely to challenge others' boundaries. People respond to invasion of territory in different ways depending on what their comfort norms are. Wood (2007) presents three common responses:
The term stimulated Edward T. Hall
to create the word proxemics
, which refers to how people use space, but not necessarily how people communicate ownership .
Nonverbal communication
Nonverbal communication is usually understood as the process of communication through sending and receiving wordless messages. Messages can be communicated through gestures and touch , by body language or posture, by facial expression and eye contact...
that refers to how people use space to communicate ownership
Ownership
Ownership is the state or fact of exclusive rights and control over property, which may be an object, land/real estate or intellectual property. Ownership involves multiple rights, collectively referred to as title, which may be separated and held by different parties. The concept of ownership has...
/occupancy of areas and possessions . The anthropological concept branches from the observations of animal ownership behaviors. We can consider that this personal space is like a bubble that one doesn't want invaded.
An example of demonstrating territoriality might be the car size. Driving a large truck like the Ford F350 might be communicating that a value of owning a lot of space on the highway. However, driving a small car like the Ford Pinto, then might be communicating no need to occupy so much space. Another example is students as they sit in class. Some students like to spread their backpack and books out in a way to let other students know that they don't want others to sit next to them. These students obviously value having a lot of space that they don't have to share. On the other hand, some students keep their books and bags close to them, making others aware that they don't have a problem sharing the space around them with other students.
Territoriality can also be associated with states or nations. Government and social ideas are also associated with Territoriality. A nation state can establish common ideals amongst its citizens which lead to territoriality. Nationalism is an example of this. National pride, common religious practices, and politics all play a role in a state's territoriality.
An example of this would be the conflict in Northern Ireland. Ireland is a catholic nation and England is a Protestant one. Many Irishman don't want Northern Ireland to be apart of a non-catholic nation. Territory disputes in this area have been justified by religion. This is an example of how religion can play a strong role in territoriality.
According to author Julia T. Wood, "men go into women's spaces more than women enter men's spaces" . With this in mind, we can understand that men typically have a stronger sense of ownership and are more likely to challenge others' boundaries. People respond to invasion of territory in different ways depending on what their comfort norms are. Wood (2007) presents three common responses:
- When someone moves too close for comfort, you might step away, giving up your territory. This reaction is typical of feminineFemininityFemininity is a set of attributes, behaviors, and roles generally associated with girls and women. Though socially constructed, femininity is made up of both socially defined and biologically created factors...
people. - When people have to fit into close spaces, they often look down as a submissive way of showing that they are not trying to invade others' territories.
- When someone moves too close, you might refuse to give up your territory. This reaction is typical of masculineMasculinityMasculinity is possessing qualities or characteristics considered typical of or appropriate to a man. The term can be used to describe any human, animal or object that has the quality of being masculine...
people.
The term stimulated Edward T. Hall
Edward T. Hall
Edward Twitchell Hall, Jr. was an American anthropologist and cross-cultural researcher. He is remembered for developing the concept of Proxemics, a description of how people behave and react in different types of culturally-defined personal space...
to create the word proxemics
Proxemics
Proxemics is the study of measurable distances between people as they interact. The term was introduced by anthropologist Edward T. Hall in 1966...
, which refers to how people use space, but not necessarily how people communicate ownership .
See also
- Signalling (economics)Signalling (economics)In economics, more precisely in contract theory, signalling is the idea that one party credibly conveys some information about itself to another party...
- Spraying (animal behavior) (territorial marking)
- Territory (animal)Territory (animal)In ethology the term territory refers to any sociographical area that an animal of a particular species consistently defends against conspecifics...
- Territory (disambiguation)