Having recently moved to the United States from Guatemala to attend college, Jose notices that people often back up a couple of steps when he is talking to them. As he is eating lunch in the student cafeteria, he casually watches the interactions of Americans who are standing. Suddenly it dawns on him: When people in the United States converse, they don't stand as close as they do in Guatemala. Jose's observation seems to indicate that the personal space people feel comfortable with while conversing is governed by:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Jose's observation suggests that the distance at which people feel comfortable while conversing is culturally determined. Therefore, the best choice is different cultural social norms. Ethnocentrism and cultural stereotypes might influence people's perception of other cultures, but do not determine personal space preferences. Normative social influence refers to the influence of other people's behavior on an individual's behavior, which is not directly relevant to personal space preferences.

Having Recently Moved to the United States from Guatemala to Attend