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Proxemics
The spatial separation between people as they interact. The anthropologist Edward T. Hall (1966) coined the term in his book The Hidden Dimension. The effects of proxemics, according to Hall, can be summarized by his rule: Intimate distance is for embracing, touching, and whispering; such close contact can often be used for intimidation. President Lyndon Johnson was noted for maintaining a close contact when trying to persuade people to accept his point of view. For more information, see Hall (1966).