Proxemics refers to the study of personal space and how distance is used to communicate messages differently depending on the situation. Kinesics involves body language like gestures, facial expressions, and eye contact. It is important to study kinesics because new gestures are constantly emerging and it can help understand emotions without words. However, gestures have different meanings across cultures so assumptions should not be made about universal meanings.

1. Nonverbal Communication:
Proxemics & Kinesics
Valerie Moran - COMM 1800

2. What is Proxemics?
Proxemics is the term given to the study of our use of
personal space. It is how we use the space around our bodies
to communicate messages.
Proxemics helps dictate what the socially acceptable space
for situations such as space between people in an elevator,
standing in line and how close people stand in public.

3. How Close is Too Close?
Below is the general range for different situations in North
America. The distances can vary greatly amongst diverse
cultures.

4. What is Kinesics?
Kinesics are behaviors such as gestures, body movements,
facial expressions and eye contact. Essentially, kinesics is
the body language used while communicating.

5. Okay, so what?
The study of kinesics is important because new gestures are
constantly being developed. For example, the high five is a
relatively new gesture. Kinesics is also important because it
can help determine whether a person is upset, flirting,
happy, disgusted, etc. without them explicitly saying it.

6. Don’t Forget This!
Different gestures mean different things in various cultures!
For example, the “Ok” gesture in the US means “zero or
worthless” in France, “change/coins” in Japan and is
extremely offensive in Brazil. Never assume gestures or other
kinesic behaviors are universal.