| Abstract: | Examined the effects of body image boundaries on preferred and avoided seating choices in small groups and the personal meanings associated with these measures of spatial behavior. Based on the formulation that physical distancing reflects psychological withdrawal, it was hypothesized that more low- than high-barrier Ss would avoid seats nearest the group leaders and prefer seats more distant from the leaders. Second, low-barrier Ss were expected to prefer sitting near the room exit. 56 undergraduates, pretested on the body image boundary variable (Rorschach test), were randomly assigned to 4 unstructured self-study groups. Findings indicate a tendency toward greater defensive distancing by boundary-indefinite Ss. Several limitations of the relationship between boundary definiteness and spatial behavior are articulated. (21 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
