What Is Psychogeography?
Good evening, this is Stalilingus. Today, I want to introduce you to an interesting topic: psychogeography.
Let’s start with a brief definition from Wikipedia: Psychogeography is a field within social psychology and philosophy that studies the psychological impact of urban environments. It developed within the Situationist International movement. The French philosopher Guy Debord defined psychogeography as “the study of the precise laws and specific effects of the geographical environment, consciously organized or not, on the emotions and behavior of individuals.”
In simple terms, by organizing the space around us, people unconsciously communicate additional information about their status in interactions. Put even more simply, it’s about arranging things so that people pay attention to what you want—or don’t want—them to notice.
Psychogeography, as a branch of applied psychology, deals with the entire spectrum of spatial coordinates: the arrangement of objects, furniture, and people relative to each other in various forms of communication (negotiations, trainings, seminars, lectures, personal conversations).
Psychogeography in Everyday Life
Even in unconscious forms, psychogeography has been known to people for a long time. For example, in old Russia, there was the concept of the “red corner”—the place of honor in a home. Whoever was seated there was immediately recognized as the guest of honor.
In modern political protocol, the guest of honor sits to the right of the host, and the second most important guest sits to the left. This is more than just tradition; it’s a kind of communication language widely understood in politics and business.
If you want to show that you are the dominant party in a process, such as in a personal conversation, you should demonstrate that you control more space.
Three Main Factors of Spatial Management
Psychogeography identifies three main factors for managing space:
- Possession
- Security
- External supports
Personal Zones in Communication
People have “personal zones” during communication—distances at which they feel comfortable interacting with others. The smallest of these is the intimate zone, which varies between cultures from about 6 to 20 inches (15 to 50 centimeters). Only close friends or relatives are allowed into this space, and it implies a level of intimacy.
This zone is slightly smaller from the side than from the front or back. So, if you want to discuss something personal or confidential, it’s easier to sit beside the person rather than directly across from them.
If you sit directly opposite someone, both of you may subconsciously feel a sense of confrontation. By moving closer or farther apart, you either invade personal zones or find a comfortable position where your zones don’t overlap. This brings up the issue of spatial security.
In summary, psychogeography affects and reflects the quality of relationships and interactions between people.
Impact on Teams, Leadership, and Group Dynamics
Psychogeography has a huge influence on teams, leadership, and group dynamics—on how people feel with you and in your (or their) space. The arrangement of furniture in a meeting room, for example, sends a meta-message about the type of interaction expected among group members.
For instance, if meeting participants form a circle, it encourages various types of feedback and interaction more than when they sit at a rectangular table or in rows like in a theater. The round table format also expresses a special kind of symbolic relationship among group members.
If someone enters a room with a board at the center and rows of chairs facing it, they’ll perceive it as a setting for a “presentation” and prepare to sit passively and listen. If the same person enters a room where several chairs are arranged facing each other in a circle, they’ll likely see it as a context for discussion and prepare to be more proactive and participate.
Circular psychogeography focuses people on their interpersonal relationships, evenly distributing mutual attention and implying equal status among group members.
On the other hand, when people sit at a rectangular table, it creates a sense of hierarchy. Attention is usually directed toward the person at the head of the table, then to those on the right and left.
A semicircular arrangement directs the group’s attention to what’s in front of the semicircle and also implies equal status. A group sitting in a straight line also implies a shared focus, but significantly reduces interaction.
How to Use Psychogeography for Group Productivity
To stimulate productivity in different types of group processes, you can organize and use various types of psychogeographical arrangements:
- Circle – Best for brainstorming.
- Semicircle – Ideal for understanding and planning how to achieve a specific goal or dream. In a semicircle, people see themselves as equals, but their attention is focused on a specific point. This arrangement helps the group focus more on the task than on relationships, so they reach agreement faster.
- Straight line – Best for critique or evaluation. Group members are more likely to respond from their own point of view, without trying to match the reactions of others.
Try it out—it really works!
Stalilingus