Explicit and implicit information about another person modulates personal space discomfort

Personal space (PS) refers to the immediate area surrounding the body where intrusions by others often cause discomfort. Recent studies suggest that implicit information such as gait patterns, in addition to explicit cues such as linguistic information, can influence the PS. However, no study has directly examined the interactions between implicit and explicit processes. In this study, we investigated the effects of walking-related visual information on PS discomfort by using a virtual reality technique. Two experiments were conducted. In Experiment 1, a point-light biological motion (BM) approached participants after a preceding word indicated whether the BM represented a "friend" or a "stranger," although only stranger BMs were shown. Experiment 2 used the same design but included both friend and stranger BMs. Participants rated their discomfort in response to the approaching BM. Results from both experiments showed that a preceding "friend" cue reduced PS discomfort compared to a "stranger" cue, and that female BMs elicited lower discomfort than male BMs. These findings suggest that PS discomfort may be influenced by both implicit and explicit processes.