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Interpersonal distance as a function of situationally induced anxiety
Author(s) -
Brady Adele T.,
Walker Michael B.
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
british journal of social and clinical psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.479
H-Index - 92
eISSN - 2044-8260
pISSN - 0007-1293
DOI - 10.1111/j.2044-8260.1978.tb00254.x
Subject(s) - psychology , anxiety , interpersonal communication , conversation , competence (human resources) , debriefing , social psychology , clinical psychology , developmental psychology , psychiatry , communication
Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of situationally induced anxiety on interpersonal distance in a two‐person conversation. In the anxiety‐arousing situation subjects were asked to discuss an interesting incident while their social competence was assessed from behind a one‐way screen. The briefing and debriefing periods were used for control purposes. Analysis of speech disturbance rates showed that the anxiety manipulation was successful. A significant increase in interpersonal distance was found in the anxiety‐inducing situation relative to the low stress situation. The implications for the controversy concerning the effect of anxiety on the need for affiliation are discussed.