Arrange in sequence the four kinds of interpersonal physical distance…

Arrange in sequence the four kinds of interpersonal physical distance from closest to distant/farthest.

(A) Social distance

(B) Personal distance

(D) Public distance

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Answer & explanation

Correct answer: option 1

The correct answer is Option (1) → (C), (B), (A), (D)

Edward Hall, an anthropologist, described four kinds of interpersonal physical distance, the space people keep from the person they are interacting with.

(C) Intimate distance — the closest, up to 18 inches, kept when talking privately or with a very close friend or relative.

(B) Personal distance — 18 inches to 4 feet, kept in a one-to-one interaction with a close friend or relative, or with someone not very close in a work setting.

(A) Social distance — 4 to 10 feet, kept when the interaction is formal and not close.

(D) Public distance — the farthest, 10 feet to infinity, kept in a formal setting with a large number of persons, such as an audience and a public speaker.

Note 1: Edward Hall’s four kinds of interpersonal physical distance were there in the chapter ‘Psychology and Life’ of the pre-rationalised NCERT, which NTA followed in 2023, and are not there in the NCERT book (2025-26).

Note 2: A similar question was also asked in CUET (UG) 2023 on 22-06-2023 (Slot 3).

NCERT (Pre-rationalised): “Crowding … Edward Hall, an anthropologist, mentioned four kinds of interpersonal physical distance, depending on the situation:

Intimate distance (upto 18 inches) : The distance you maintain when you are talking privately to someone, or interacting with a very close friend or relative.
Personal distance (18 inches to 4 feet) : The distance you maintain when you are interacting one-to-one with a close friend, relative, or even with someone not very close to you in a work setting or other social situation.
Social distance (4 to 10 feet) : The distance you maintain when the interaction is formal, and not close.
Public distance (10 feet to infinity) : The distance you maintain in a formal setting, where there is a large number of persons. For example, the distance of an audience from a public speaker, or a teacher in a classroom.…”