— proxemic , adj.
/prok see"miks/ , n. ( used with a sing. v. )
1. Sociol. , Psych. the study of the spatial requirements of humans and animals and the effects of population density on behavior, communication, and social interaction.
2. Ling. the study of the symbolic and communicative role in a culture of spatial arrangements and variations in distance, as in how far apart individuals engaged in conversation stand depending on the degree of intimacy between them. Cf. personal space .
[ 1960-65; PROX(IMITY) + -emics (extracted from PHONEMICS); appar. coined by U.S. anthropologist Edward T. Hall (b. 1914) ]