Abstract
The further advancement of privacy models depends upon clarifying two issues: the relationship between privacy and territoriality and the degree to which different types of privacy have distinct behavioral and cognitive correlates. Two types of privacy experiences—solitude and intimacy—were investigated. Given the divergent function of these two forms of privacy, we expected each would be sought in different types of territories. We also expected that where people seek a form of privacy depends in part upon the quality of the immediate social environment: a territory will be used less for privacy experiences as the understandings that regulate usage of the space erode. Students were asked where they went for solitude, where they went for intimacy, and to describe their experiences in these two places. Results supported the hypotheses. In addition, a substantial and coequal linkage between privacy and territoriality appeared. A two-step process describing this linkage was suggested. Implications of the findings for a more precise conceptualization of privacy behaviors were explored.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Altman, I.The environment and social behavior. Monterey, CA: Brooks/Cole, 1975.
Altman, I. Privacy regulation: Culturally universal or culturally specific?.Journal of Social Issues, 1977,33, 66–84.
Altman, I., & Taylor, D. A.Social penetration. New York: Holt, Rhinehart and Winston, 1973.
Archea, J. The place of architectural factors in behavioral theories of privacy.Journal of Social Issues, 1977,33, 116–137.
Bates, A. P. Privacy—A useful concept?Social Forces, 1964,42, 429–434.
Baum, A., Harpin, R. E., & Valins, S. The role of group phenomenon in the experience of crowding.Environment and Behavior, 1975,7, 185–198.
Brower, S. N. Territory in urban settings. In I. Altman, A. Rapoport, & J. Wohlwill (Eds.),Human behavior and environment, 4: Culture and environment. New York: Plenum Press, 1979.
Cohen, J., & Cohen, P.Applied multiple regression/correlation analysis for the behavioral sciences. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum, 1975.
Edney, J. J., & Buda, M. A. Distinguishing territoriality and privacy: Two studies.Human Ecology, 1976,4, 283–296.
Gough, H. G.Manual for the California Psychological Inventory. Palo Alto, CA: Consulting Psychologists Press, 1957.
Kelvin, P. A social-psychological examination of privacy.British Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 1973,12, 248–251.
Laufer, R. S., & Wolfe, M. Privacy as a concept and a social issue: A multidimensional developmental theory.Journal of Social Issues, 1977,33, 22–42.
Margolis, S. T. Conceptions of privacy: Current status and next steps.Journal of Social Issues, 1977,33, 5–21.
Marshall, N. J. Privacy and environment.Human Ecology, 1972,2, 93–110.
Marshall N. J. Dimensions of privacy preferences,Multivariate Behavioral Research, 1974,9, 255–271.
Megargee, E. I.The California Psychological Inventory handbook. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 1972.
Pastalan, L. A. Privacy as an expression of human territoriality. In L. A. Pastalan & D. H. Carson (Eds.),Spatial behavior of older people. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 1970.
Taylor, R. B. Human territoriality: A review and a model for future research.Cornell Journal of Social Relations, 1978,13, 125–152.
Taylor, R. B., & Stough, R. R. Territorial cognition: Assessing Altman's typology.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1978,36, 418–423.
Westin, A. F.Privacy and freedom. New York: Atheneum, 1967.
Reference Notes
Taylor, R. B.Territorial cognition and the structure of centrality. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Eastern Psychological Association, Boston, 1977.
Sundstrom, E., Burt, R. E., & Kamp, D.Privacy at work: Architectural correlates of job satisfaction and job performance. Unpublished manuscript, Department of Psychology, University of Tennessee, 1978.
Ferguson, G., & Taylor, R. B.Privacy preferences and privacy behaviors. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Eastern Psychological Association, Philadelphia, 1979.
Ferguson, G., & Taylor, R. B.The criterion problem and scale development: Loneliness, privacy and self-disclosure. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, New York City, 1979.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Portions of a prior version of this paper were presented at the annual meetings of the American Psychological Association, Toronto, 1978. This research was carried out while the first author was affiliated with Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Research funds were provided by a small grant award from the Office of the Dean of Arts and Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. The authors are indebted to Ed Krupat and Eric Sundstrom for helpful comments on an earlier draft of this paper.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Taylor, R.B., Ferguson, G. Solitude and intimacy: Linking territoriality and privacy experiences. J Nonverbal Behav 4, 227–239 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00986199
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00986199