What causes us to have trivial conversations in the elevator?
“Together but not mixed.”
This might be the saying that best represents the reaction of most human beings when they get into an elevator and start a conversation with another person about the weather.
And as a company in the vertical transport sector has found, this type of banal conversations in a space as small as an elevator occur because the minimum distance that a person needs to feel safe from others is reduced. A space that is key for human beings: people need a minimum space to develop their individuality and privacy and recognize themselves as a being independent from the rest. When this physical space is not available, such as inside an elevator, people can feel uncomfortable.
That is to say, we unconsciously interpret the reduction of personal territory as a possible attack, which can activate a series of physiological stress reactions that lead to talking for the sake of talking.
What are the minimum comfortable distances between people?
There are various distances depending on the situation in which the interaction takes place and the type of relationship between the protagonists. First is the intimate zone, which ranges from 15 to 45 centimetres . Only partners, friends and family members enter this zone. Second is the personal zone, which ranges from 46 centimetres to 1.22 metres, a distance present at social gatherings or parties. And finally is the social zone, which ranges from 1.23 to 3.6 metres, which is the distance maintained between unknown people.
What happens when these minimum distances are not met?
Thus, when we enter an elevator or lift and this last distance is not met, we usually generate a pattern of physical changes that prepare the body for a possible defense or flight behavior . These include increased heart rate, adrenaline rush into the bloodstream, dilated pupils, sharpened hearing, or increased blood flow to the brain and muscles . This implies that an excessively intimate approach, with a person with whom there is no such relationship, can produce an uncomfortable reaction in the individual who receives it, feeling like an unauthorized intrusion into the private area. Despite this, the recipient may maintain the smile and the friendly gesture as a social norm and pure courtesy.
What can be done to avoid discomfort in an elevator?
As every elevator company is concerned with ensuring that the transport of people is always as comfortable as possible, they also work to ensure that people who travel in their elevators – whether in an office building, a hospital or in the building where they live – feel as comfortable as possible. Making a small space pleasant can be achieved by paying special attention to certain details, such as lighting, air conditioning, cabin materials or its decoration . In this way, the negative effects and discomfort of small spaces can be mitigated and a pleasant space can be created, no matter how small it is.
Source: Article from “ Elevator Magazine ”, Edition No. 102
Related posts:
