People from China and Japan are usually much more reserved, and will stand considerably farther away from the other person with whom they are having a conversation.

The size of the space bubble we try to create around us will also change according to circumstances.

When we are on a subway during rush hour we will tolerate strangers pressing up against us in a way that we would not accept from someone at a business meeting. When we first meet someone new, we are not likely to stand in each other’s zone of private space unless we are both feeling a strong sexual attraction. When people are drunk they will tolerate a lot of physical closeness with strangers that they might not accept when they are sober.

When you encounter people whose cultural expectations are very different from your own, it is easy to make mistakes, even serious ones, and you might unintentionally offend the people you meet. And it’s very likely that people from other cultures will make blunders with you, and perhaps even offend you without being aware that they have done so.

When you are talking with other people, respect the space boundary that your conversation partners want to have around them.

If you find that other people keep moving further back when you stand close to them, it does not necessarily mean they don’t like you. It might mean that you are invading territory they consider their personal space.

If you notice this happening, they will probably appreciate having a bit more space. Don’t move physically closer to them until you know them better and they seem more willing to get close to you.

When people warm up to you and like you a lot, they will often signal this by smiling at you a lot, getting closer to you, and touching you. If they don’t feel that this is the right time or place for being close, they will pull back a bit.

You can subtly participate in negotiating the ideal distance by slightly approaching and backing away until you both appear to be comfortable.

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