Introduction
People have powerful attitudes when it comes to their territory or what they call their ‘turf’. When a person enters the personal space of another, there is a tendency of the latter to feel intruded upon. It does not matter whether there is physical contact, the feeling and reaction is usually the same. The interpretation of this intrusion is usually negative. It will probably imply the intruder as mentally unstable, practicing unacceptable behavior or even having criminal intent in their action.
Closing Times for Cafes in North and Southern Regions
Some experts on the issue like Edward Hall, the first to study personal space, reported that Europeans and Americans from the north tend to require more personal space than Europeans do from the south, as well as Arabs and Latin Americans (Salt & Myers 264). In this way, this relates to hours for closing cafes. How so? One may ask the answer is in the appointment times preferred in different cultures. For example, Italians prefer business hours that go for short bursts of time during the morning and evening. In general, the best time to plan an appointment is between the morning hours up to midnight. This runs a contrast to the northern hemisphere where business hours run between the hours of 8.30 in the morning to noon on the same day.
These cultures are to the South and thus differentiate with the northern business hours. However, the world is becoming a global village with the increasing mixture of cultures brought by intense immigration. One may find whole sections of societies in a city of ethnicities from the south including Hispanics, Italians Latin Americans. They have citizen privileges; they have citizen privileges and appreciate the recognition as their practices when it comes to business hours as well. In the large societies, all groupings have their codes and customs that they follow. However, there are real differences based on geographic region (Salt & Myers 264).
For example, the Hispanic members NA in Brooklyn, New York hug more after their classes than the middleclass group, Protestant members, in Akron, Ohio. When differentiating the subculture traits the counselors should also assume the possibility of variations within a grouping in terms of cultural behavior sets. If what controls personal space is the different culture sets that people use, then the study on the proponents of personal space should base itself on culture itself (Salt & Myers 264).
The cultural set of late is headed toward a melting pot, how does one treat cultural initiatives of one culture such as preferences of closing times for cafes? At this point, it seems that northern cultures such as Europeans and colonial Americans are conservative and prefer that certain premises be closed at certain hours. This may interfere with the business cycle of others in the community that creates counterproductive activity to the societal rhythm; as a result, the economic capacity of a community is limited. As much as, people communicate through a range of different behaviors that remain unexamined and taken for granted, it is obvious that interaction and language may mould thinking. Integration of cultural systems has a deep effect on how the world is perceived, the experiences of life and organizations of life.
Culture In Relation To the Topic
Culture finds its definition as the way of life of a people and the sum of the learned patterns of thought and behavior (Salt & Myers 264). Culture holds and initiates behavior in deep and persisting methods, many of which are subconscious and are, therefore, beyond the conscious control of the person in question. Similarly, different perceptions on the concept of space govern the way that a person values their personal space. For example, the Japanese see the shape and arrangement of space of having a tangible meaning (East 8). To the original inhabitants of the western nations, their perspective may narrow down to an issue of security, and they may state that certain closing hours are there for a reason. On the other hand, the reason for the petition for extension originates from the changing of times, brought more so by the diversifying of the community at large. Incoming cultures survived with the same hours, while their communities may even boast of crime rates lower than that of the host countries. Another reason why white Americans may differ in the issue of closing hours relates to the territory in that they may feel ever-increasing numbers of immigrants entering their communities as encroaching upon their living space.
Comparison of Reactions from Different Cultures in Similar Positions
There are different reactions across different cultures relating to space. For example, Arabs are rather different, and this is where their culture enters. To the Arabian context, the huddling together provides companionship and symbolizes togetherness. They would like to feel and touch their companion, in order to create a connection, for ‘to deny another’s touch is to show shame for their presence.’ Thus, one may find a spacious Arabian dwelling with all of the occupants huddled together in one central area. As much as the Arab, feels that he should be connected with his fellow man, there are times when he needs to be alone (East 8).
Now, he will most likely withdraw and cut lines of communication with associates, which will be respected by his friends. Therefore, we have differentiated personal spaces considering the eastern or near eastern cultures opposed to each other and the west. Nevertheless, the west too, has differences within the culture and thus approaches personal space. For example, there will be a broad difference between the ways that a German handles their personal space and the way that an American will do the same. An American will carry a two-foot perimeter with them, and if a friend comes to discuss with them then their spaces may merge (East 8). On the other hand, a German may consider their entire household as the perimeter in this case. Therefore, if someone is intimate in a conversation excluding the former individual, they might be insulted.
Thus, one can understand why westerners may subconsciously perceive the influx of foreigners into their countries as a breach of their living space and thus a threat to their daily way of life. Petitions to update on issues such as the timings on the opening and closing times for cafes are part of a bigger issue in their eyes. They may feel threatened and give heavy resistance, though it is a matter of progress and social accommodation due to increase of diversity. The increasing population means their percentage begins to blend and become a smaller portion hence the minorities become the majority. However, some aspects of culture and thus personal space are inborn.
According to Edward Hall, the German contradicts the Arab in that their ego is intensely exposed, and thus they might go to extreme lengths to preserve their private area of influence. World War 2 when looking at German prisoners of war provides the perfect example. They were usually put in settings of four men to a hut. As soon as they could, they began setting partitions for private space even if it was in such small quarters (East 9). In open stockades, they set about trying to build private dwellings.
In other words, they would rather, keep their personal pride even in the face of complete defeat. Such a society would be moderately difficult to deal with when changing regulations up to a certain point. The issue might be trivial in the eyes of the proposing party or noteworthy because it involves the business capabilities of certain foreign factions. Minority communities have influenced local cultures that have in turn adopted practices from all sectors including that of cuisine to dressing. Thus, as much as the option for extending closing hours may be for cafes, it is also a benefit to the local culture.
Conclusion
The action would be an appropriate accommodation of different perspectives and integration of communities, which is essential for the national community and would benefit other sectors including the economy, as well as the social sphere. The worries based on security would lie in the hands of the state as their responsibility. In a world that is fast heading toward a constantly working economy, law and order would need to upgrade to cater to the new requirements.
Works Cited
East, Julius. Body Language. California: E- Reads, 1970. Print.
Salt, Norman. and Peter Myers. Becoming an Addictions Counselor: A Comprehensive Text.
Massachusetts: Jones &Bartlett Publishers, 2007. Print
