Personal Space 1 Running head: INTERPERSONAL SPACE AND GENDER Interpersonal space and gender

What factors are associated with the penetration of personal space? Who is more likely to have their space invaded? It may be that factors such as gender, race and status play a role in determining whether personal space will be penetrated. Personal space may be constructed as a dyad. It may be true that males are least effective at defending their interpersonal space because of social issues related to male interaction and associations made concerning male conversations. The current study investigated if gender is associated with the penetration of personal space. It was found that gender was not associated with the violation of interpersonal space. More specifically, males were not more likely to have their interpersonal space penetrated than females. It was found, however, that people were significantly more likely to penetrate personal space than to go around two people in conversation. Personal Space 3 Interpersonal space and gender Personal space has been a subject examined in social psychology for some time