Sociology : Proxemics in Multiculturalism in Australian Schools

Running head: SOCIOLOGY
Proxemics in multiculturalism in Australian schools
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
Author note:

1SOCIOLOGY
Abstract
The mode of this paper is that of explorative, which helps in excavating the aspect of
proxemics in multiculturalism in the Australian schools. An important them,, which the
researcher has inserted in the study is that of multiculturalism, which scans the
communication, which occurs between the persons from different cultures. An important
element in this communication is that of the space and territory. Allowance of others into the
space is exclusive decision of the persons in terms of their individuality. The method of
surveying 6 educators is apt in terms of gaining an insight into the approach toward planning
the implementation of the proxemic systems for maintaining equality in the schools premises.
This initiative reflects the transcendence from the personal to the social space for enhancing
the personality.

2SOCIOLOGY
Table of contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................3
Design........................................................................................................................................3
Literature review........................................................................................................................3
Method.......................................................................................................................................8
Findings......................................................................................................................................8
Conclusion................................................................................................................................16
References................................................................................................................................17

3SOCIOLOGY
Introduction
Sociology is a branch of science, dealing with aspects catering to the social wellbeing.
Theories like social contract reflect that the obligations of the individuals are in the form of
contracts or agreements, indicating a kind of claustrophobic existence. One such aspect is that
of proxemics, which caters to the space in communication (Yang, 2018). Delving deep into
the matter, the human use of the space reflects their approach towards social interaction. In
this context, psychology plays an important role as to detect the behavioural tendencies
towards mapping the parameters in which the social interactions takes place (Zhang et al.,
2017). This assignment attempts to conduct a study on the aspect of proxemics in
multiculturalism in the threshold of Australian schools.
Design
The assignment attempts to use explorative research design for exploring the
unexplored realms in the field of proxemics in the multiculturalism. The target market is that
of the Australian schools, where the relationships are the best means for enhancing the
awareness of the readers regarding the distances in the mode of instructions, that is
communication. Along with this, the means of Survey Monkey have been adopted for
collecting the necessary data on the impact proxemics on multiculturalism in the threshold of
Australian schools.
Literature review
Proxemics, as defined by Piller, (2017), is the study of the impact of space on the
social interactions. It is one of the important subsections of nonverbal communication.
Further study of the subject, results in the excavation of the aspects of haptics, kinesics and
vocalic, including chronemics (Matloob, 2019). One of important components in proxemics

4SOCIOLOGY
is the human distances, which is maintained in the process of communication. These
distances are referred as four different zones, which are intimate space, personal space, social
space and public space (Strzałka, 2019).
Fig: Human distance zones
(Source: Mahon, 2017)
According to the arguments of Britto, (2018), the distances, which surround the
person is the space. Personal space is the arena, where the persons experience comfort and
security by being amidst the near and dear ones. Intimacy is there at this stage with the
relatives, peers and friends. Social and public distances are maintained in the interactions
with others, with whom there are no familial relations. Depending on the relationship with the
people, the distances are horizontal and vertical. One of an important concept in this context
is biometrics, which Benjamin et al., (2019) considers being effective for exploring the
importance of space in communication, which is mostly nonverbal.

5SOCIOLOGY
Pérez, (2019) states the proxemics theory, where there are four forms of human
territories: public, interactional, home and body. Public territory is the one, where there are
no restrictions. Control mechanisms operate at lower levels. In case of interactional, the
congregation is informal (Strumska-Cylwik & Gazaille, 2019). Home territory is the one,
where control is higher and the body territory is the one, which immediately surrounds the
individual. Islam and Kirillova, (2020) brings the aspect of culture into the context, which is
variable and depends on the specific interests of the persons. There are cultural differences,
indicating the simultaneous differences between the preferences. According to Ord, (2019),
the main proxemic cultural difference is a broadened space between the persons in the
process of communication (Cots & Garrett, 2017). The expectations of personal space are
exclusive to the persons, which sometimes lead to complex intercultural communications.
Typical example of this is the language barriers, where the space is entirely a different one.
In the threshold of school, proxemics relates to the personal and social space of the
teacher and the students. The spaces are exclusive to the teacher and the student. Ang, Ng and
Rockstuhl, (2020) is of the view that when the teachers teach in a class, the students let the
teacher to enter into their personal space and vice versa. Interaction is the major form of this
allowance, which is itself a vast field. Difference in the cultural proxemics patterns is to be
studies for gaining an insight into the specific preferences and needs of the students. An
evident example in this context is that of the students coming from the different cultures, who
encounter difficulties like language barrier, abuse, rejection and others (Llurda, Bayyurt &
Sifakis, 2017). As a result of this, the students feel isolating themselves, where the control
over the personal space is more and intrusion into this space is low, except for the close, near
and dear ones.
Schmidt, (2016) opines that the teachers intervene into the personal space of the
students for guiding them into the right things. Maintaining ethics and rationality in the