The Concepts of Territoriality, Privacy, and Personal Space

The Concepts of Territoriality, Privacy, and Personal Space

Privacy

According to Privacy (2004)

Privacy regulation refers to how individuals and groups control interactions with others, especially about confidential or intimate information or with respect to physical contact or access. All societies have developed mechanisms for regulating privacy, and effective use of these mechanisms is related to individual and group viability. (Para 1)

When privacy is involved people have selective control over information in relation to oneself and who he or she interacts with. For example security screening, privacy policies on websites, and privacy policies in hospitals, these privacy policies gives individual’s the opportunity to be as open or close he or she wants or may need to be. However, one’s privacy needs and standards differ from other people, and as well as situations that occur and his or her background.

Personal Space

“The term “personal space” was introduced into the social psychological literature to describe the emotionally tinged zone around the human body that people feel is “their space.” “(Personal Space, 2004, Para. 2). With that say, personal space has been described as an area with unnoticed restrictions encircling an individual’s body which unwanted people or invaders are not welcomed. One’s personal space is capable of changing, but it varies between backgrounds, current circumstances, and people, just like privacy. Based on neuroscientfic research, an individual’s personal space is formed and acts as a mediator by his or her brain. However, the theory of personal space has rooted from “animal studies, particularly the work of ethologists and zoologists, because most animals in the wild maintain defined distances from conspecifics, and these distances are influenced by an animal's age, size, gender, social rank, and other factors” (Personal space, 2004, Para. 2). In addition, even though one’s personal boundaries change within situations; it is important and effective for everyone.

Territoriality

Actions made known by humans and animals when marks and protecting one’s territory is territoriality. According to territoriality (2004), “Most animals in the wild have fixed geographic areas called territories that they mark, defend against intruders, and use for vital life-sustaining activities; marking by animals is done in various ways” (Para. 1). For example a bird sings, a bear uses their claws to create scratches on trees, and dogs urinate on trees to leave their scent. Just like animals, humans customize and protect areas that are significant or have value to him or her. “However, because humans rely on symbolic means of marking