Research Method:

A current issue, which many of the people in our society face in their daily lives, is smoking in public places. While some individuals may remove themselves from such situations, other individuals make no attempt to change the given circumstances. These physical movements or lack thereof, interested the research group and allowed the research group to pose the question: What nonverbal proximal cues may observed individuals exhibit when another individual begins smoking a cigarette within their intimate zone? Upon completion of the question, the research group began developing specific strategies concerning the data collection for this investigation.

It was agreed to present Portland, Oregon area bus shelters with a male smoker willing to violate our society's proximal norms through smoking cigarettes at close distances to unknowing research participants. The results proved fascinating, in that the research group discovered a series of nonverbal reaction patterns that are analyzed throughout the following composition. Upon completion of this reading one can gain a vast knowledge of the proximal aspects related to public cigarette smoking. Thus realizing that no individuals will react in the exact same manner, but also recognizing the fact that many of the movements exhibited can be classified into specific categories. The research group will present the methods of data collection, analysis, and interpretation respectively, followed by a series of theories and insight developed through our research process.

The research group set out to study the nonverbal proxemic cues that observed individuals exhibit when another individual begins smoking a cigarette within their intimate zone. To conduct the research and properly obtain the data the research group preformed field experiments using a grounded approach research method in a naturalistic setting. The researchers analyzed proxemics based on the perceptions and use of space, including how space is organized, used or defended, and the distances between people (Guererro, 1999, p.173). The observed individuals studied were random individuals who were waiting at bus shelters during peak hours of transit use. This type of location is studied because it is a public territory. “Public territories are thus ambiguous with respect to accorded freedoms. First, the official rights of access may be regularly violated by local custom. Second, status discrepancy may modify activity and entrance” (Lyman, 1967, p.176). The data was collected during the hours of 7:00-9:00am on the 18^th of February 2003, and 5:00-7:00pm on the 21^st of February 2003, at random locations throughout downtown Portland, OR. Four specific factors were recorded in each observation; date, exact time of day, proxemic functions, and gender.

The research group focused on the following proximal cues; body leans, body positioning, and overall physical distancing. To initiate these reactions the researcher walked up to the transit location and stepped into the individual's, or group of individuals', intimate zone. North American culture generally operates within four zones: intimate, personal, social and public. The intimate zone extends from physical contact to approximately 18” to 24” away from the individual. This is followed by the personal zone, which begins at the end of the intimate zone and extends out to 48”. The social zone, starts at the edge of the personal zone and reaches out to 12 feet. The last zone, the public zone, extends 12 feet away from the individual with no specific ending point (Smeltzer, 1991, p.186). After entering the intimate zone of the observed individual, the researcher lit a cigarette and kept their body position consistent while exhibiting no verbal cues. No verbal or ocular contact was ever made between the researcher and the observed individuals unless the observed subject directly addressed the smoking researcher. Starting from the time when the cigarette was lit, the observed individual provided proximal nonverbal cues, reactions that would be measured in relation to a change from their original location before the researcher was introduced into the environment. The observed individuals' body movements were recorded over the course of the cigarette and final location was noted either when the cigarette was finished or when the individual left the area where the researcher was standing. After finishing smoking, the researcher then walked away from the location. The specific data was recorded due to the fact that people strive to balance affiliation and privacy. Individuals do this by controlling their territories or personal space, territory is a geographic area (Guererro, 1999, p.173). Invading that territory would gain some kind of response, that response was the focus of the research group.

The similarities in the first data set were that three individuals observed during cigarettes one and two did not exhibit proximal changes in relation to the smoking individual. The observed individuals did not adjust their personal bubble to compensate for the smoking researcher. The personal bubble is “[the] area that moves with you and is sometimes referred to as your personal bubble because it involves a “bubble” of space on all sides of you. Your personal space will expand and contract depending upon the situation” (Guererro, 1999, p.173). There were no direct proximal movements or adaptors used during the course of the cigarette. The two individuals observed during cigarette three displayed very visible proximal cues such as turning of the head and increasing distance from their original location and the location of the smoker. These individuals moved themselves so that the smoking researcher, while actively not changing position, would no longer be in their intimate zone and instead in their social zone.

In the second set of observations there were five individuals observed. Similarities in the second data set showed that two out of the three individuals observed exhibited no proximal changes in relation to the smoking researcher. These behaviors were observed during cigarettes one and three and included rigid body posture (planting feet, locking legs and crossing arms) and lack of perceptual acknowledgment of the smoking individual's presence. The individuals observed during cigarette two and cigarette three exhibited a complete change of proximal distance in relation to the smoking individual.

The overall similarities in the data were that the possible proximal reactions of observed individuals had a 50% chance of occurring. The data showed that exactly one half of the individuals observed did not exhibit any form of proximal reaction. The other portion of the group provided reactions that were generally easily identified by their grouping with other nonverbal actions, such as staring and personal zone violation reactions.

The research group's observations can be analyzed and placed into three separate categories involving; physical immediacy, physiological and psychological behaviors. Each observed individual's displays of proximal change can be examined through the categories while explaining the frequency or lack of proximal change. The categories, though separated, work in conjunction with one another, and therefore each individual's proximal behavior can be explained interchangeably.

Physical immediacy behavior encompasses the observed subjects' awareness of their personal space. “High density environments tend to be associated with the sensation of crowding and its negative effects. Resentment, conflict, and withdrawal frequently result when individuals; felt need for privacy is frustrated by the violation of their proxemic expectations” (Leathers, 1997, p.107). The smoker and the smoke exuded, although occulesically and haptically apparent, can affect proximal location by simply violating an individual's “personal bubble.” When standing within an individual's personal space and adding the factor of smoke, the distance between two people is physically lessened. Smell can be disregarded as a primary characteristic of smoke. The individuals studied who remain in their observed starting position could be interpreted as those who have a more conducive outlook on personal space. Those who moved away quickly may have strong defense mechanisms in place which initiate a reaction when the smoking individual violated their intimate space. A supporting finding from a similar study of college females found that “there was more of a negative reaction when the personal space of the participants was invaded” (Pawlik, 1998).

Physiological behaviors involve the biological body and its tolerance. Individual's who have allergic reactions to smoke, or have medical conditions that do not allow them to be around smoke, position themselves in accordance with their biological need. This differs from those who are merely aware of the negative biological effects of the components of smoke to their health. A health conscious subject reacts from a preconception before making the conscious choice to move the body. An individual with negative biological reactions exhibits change due to the body's needs, and that, in turn, effects their movement. This is concurrent with previous research that has shown that when asked, a third of respondents had “avoided a…[situation] because of cigarette smoke” (Avoided Visiting…, n.d.).

A psychological immediacy behavior can include the change, or lack of change, in the proximal positioning pre- and post-cigarette lighting. “Smoking is a powerful form of nonverbal communication conveying a range of information “(Silverblatt, 1999, p135). Convergence and divergence of proximal behavior by the smoking researcher was observed in relation to psychological standards exhibited through measurable proximal change. Measured distance encompasses the movement that can be observed with the eye. Psychological behaviors can be interpreted by understanding the effects of society on the individual.

The media is a powerful tool used to market cigarettes, despite the ban on actual tobacco advertisements on television. “Given all of the cumulative messages about smoking, entertainment programming remains a very powerful indirect advertisement for the tobacco industry” (Silverblatt, 1999, p138). Romance, rebellion, sex appeal, and relaxation are aspects conveyed through the swirls of smoke that are two-dimensional, odorless, and tasteless. Social acceptance of smokers on television has an affect on relationships with smokers in real life. “Smoking has always played a significant role in the media's presentations, for numerous reasons. Smoking behaviors is particularly well suited for visual media”( Silverblatt, 1999, p134) The more of the media's perception (or false reality) of smoking remains sexual, positive and desirable, the more societies' consumption of advertising will affect their views on smoking; thus changing proximal habits through psychological pre-disposition.

After completing the research, the group analyzed the experiment's uncontrolled variables. For instance, the research group was not able to accurately decipher whether or not the observed individuals were smokers or non-smokers. Many smoking individuals remain completely at ease when faced with second hand smoke inhalation. Also, just as smokers become accustomed to smoke, so do non-smoking individuals who live with smokers. Another unknown factor in the study was the environmental conditions and the effect of the weather on observed individuals' reactions. The study was conducted in a public area therefore local wind patterns may have blown smoke towards or away from the observed individuals. Temperature may have prompted the observed individuals to move around for warmth as opposed to moving away from the smoker. Lastly, since the smoking researcher entered into the observed individual's intimate zone, movement caused by, smoke or personal space violation cannot be accurately defined.

As the researchers reflect upon the study, they are met with feelings of great accomplishment. To present knowledge a study of this nature has never been conducted, placing the research group at the academic forefront of cigarette smoking and the nonverbal proximal changes. Recognizing the nonverbal proximal cues, the observed individuals exhibit change when another individual begins smoking a cigarette within their intimate zone. This differs respectively with each individual's unique characteristics. Regardless of whether it is a mere sidle or a complete proximity transfer, all of the observed individuals were in some way affected by the presence of the smoking individual.

The fact that half of the individuals remained dormant, and the other exhibited nonverbal reactions poses as a metaphor to describe America's two conflicting sides within the current issue of cigarette smoking in public. Some within our society wish to abolish the public display of what they refer to as an entirely nasty habit, while smoking advocates shout for the freedom that they feel provides the right to smoke openly when in a public, outdoor environment. Eliminating this problem presents an arduous task, and in the meantime, innocent bystanders will continue exhibiting countless nonverbal proximal reactions when exposed to an individual smoking within their intimate zone.