How do personal space norms vary across cultures?

The answer

Anthropologist Edward T. Hall pioneered the study of proxemics, finding that comfortable personal space varies significantly across cultures. In the United States and Northern Europe, normal conversation distance is about 45 to 120 centimeters (1.5 to 4 feet). In Latin American, Middle Eastern, and Southern European cultures, people typically stand much closer, at 30 to 60 centimeters, and may touch frequently during conversation. Japanese culture generally maintains larger personal space, and touching between non-intimate acquaintances is rare. Research shows these differences can cause significant cross-cultural friction: Northern Europeans may perceive close-standing Arabs or Brazilians as aggressive, while those same individuals may perceive the Northerners as cold or unfriendly.