The
Effects of People and Noise
Humans are by nature
territorial. The need for personal space, and territory is an inherent trait
that stems back to early mankind. In the early stages of mankind, privacy may
not have been as large a factor as it is in modern society because early man
was more likely to live in pack environments. As mankind advanced, and society
modernized with villages and settlements, the value of privacy became more
important. This modernization of man also increased the human need for
territory and personal space. In early settlements, families began to live as
separate dwellings from other tribe members. As mankind evolved from early
settlements, people started congregating larger numbers in smaller
environments. This evolution in mankind refined early man’s need for less
restrictive territorial, personal, and private spaces to a major aspect of
human socialization.
In modern society,
individual need for territory has developed from large plots of land to include
smaller spaces in congested urban environments. These smaller spaces could be a
house in a suburban neighborhood to a small apartment in the inner city. No
matter where the individual’s territory is, it is a place that he or she can
personalize, and create his or her own personal space, personality, and
privacy. Another concern for society is noise intrusion. As society advanced
into more congested environments, noise levels rose in as society advanced. In
the early days of villages or settlements, nature was still the primary noise,
but noises also developed from society. Sounds of horses, people in shopping
areas, and other congregational areas rose. As mankind advanced on mechanical
and technological levels, the sounds of the natural environment became drowned
out by sounds of factories, cars, and other noises associated with growing
societies.
The Perception of Territory
When people think of
territory, it is common to think of a small piece of land controlled by an
individual, or a large area like a city, state or country controlled by a group
of people (Saitoh, 1985). In the animal kingdom, large predator cats mark their
hunting territory by spraying or scenting trees or shrubs that surround their
territory (Saitoh, 1985). Although humans do not scent or spray shrubs or
trees, people do mark territorial boundaries with both physical and mental
markings. Because humans are basically animals, it is safe to surmise that some
territorial tendencies do transfer from one species to another (Gosling, 2001).
To understand territorial possession or behavior, one must first consider
personality types. Some people have affiliative personalities, whereas others
have aggressive or assertive personalities. People with affiliative
personalities are less likely to be protective of territory than a person with
an aggressive personality (Gosling, 2001). Because human personality, like
those of animals, differs by geographic, social, and historical properties,
territorial perspectives are also going to differ accordingly (Gosling, 2001).
In the modern age of
technology, the word “territory” has expanded to include physical and virtual environments.
Humans are expanding personal environments to include cyber-spaces like FaceBook,
MySpace, Twitter, and other social networking systems. Individuals partaking in
regular online activities start to become possessive of their Internet
identity, and relate to home pages, and social sites as their personal
territory (Slane, 2005). Individuals become protective on these cyber-territories,
even to a point of becoming angered if a server suffers an Internet attack, or
if strangers try to gain access to private spaces, or send unsolicited
communications via email (Slane, 2005).
The Perception of Privacy
Privacy is more
difficult to define than territory because it references a vast amount of
interests that include controlling personal data, and access to particular
places or physical presence (Kemp, 2007). Privacy is an issue that crosses many
aspects of society. There are aspects of personal privacy relating to an
individual’s right to release personal information, and legal aspects of
privacy that guarantee an individual’s rights related to personal privacy
(Kemp, 2007). For example the HIPPA Omnibus Rule that provides federal
protection of individual medical records, and the rights of the individual to
disclose said information (HHS.Gov, 2013).
As with other
societal issues, privacy, and how an individual views it based on his or her
societal and cultural structure. The United Sates, for example has laws that
protect the privacy of citizens from illegal search and seizure from state or
federal agencies, whereas citizens of most communist countries are not provided
the same rights (Kemp, 2007). More controversial issues regarding privacy is an
issue that faces constant backlash from people from multiple cultural
backgrounds. This is the right to privacy provided to women from the outcome of
Roe vs. Wade, that challenged the constitutionality of Texas abortion laws
(Supreme Court of the United Sates, 1973).
The Perception of Personal Space
Personal space is
recognized as the immediate physical area surrounding a person, and where the
majority of the person’s interactions take place (Little, 1965). Personal space
is an issue that crosses the boundaries of territory and privacy. Personal
Space is the area in which a person feels comfortable around others. It is
suspected that personal space is recognized by people starting in early
childhood, and that differences in personal space varies from males to females,
and at different sexual development stages (Oswalt, 2013). Personal space also
relates to Internet and other technological devices like cellular phones and
fax machines (Federal Trade Commission, 2013). In response to an unbridled
barrage of invasions into personal space on the Internet, the President of the
United Sates signed into law the CAN-SPAM Act of 2003, which restricted
unauthorized intrusion from mass email marketers, and marketers using other
mediums like fax machines and cellular phones. Invasion of personal space also
can be unintentional. Researchers surmise that certain areas of the brain cause
discomfort reactions when another person stands too close to another (Novotney,
2004).
The Urban Effect
Humans are by nature
social animals. People congregate in social hubs to perform daily tasks like
shopping, eating out, and socializing (Wolfe, 2003). As society progresses
these social areas become more crowded, and filled with noises that affect an
individual’s ability to concentrate (Wolfe, 2003). People living in urban
settings are more likely to become protective of personal space, perceived
territory, and privacy because population density causes a heightened defensive
reaction (Little, 1965). Issues like squatter settlements begin to appear on
basement, lobby, and first level floors of many abandoned buildings, which
causes a rise in rodent infestations, and diseases because the infrastructure
of these buildings no longer functions (Wolfe, 2003). Weather and noise are
major factors that influence behavior in urban settings (Stewart, 2009). As
temperatures and noise levels change, individual’s ability to concentrate on
daily tasks, get proper amounts of sleep, or focus on important actions is
inhibited. This results in individuals becoming more frustrated, angry, and
anxious in the urban setting, and results in illnesses like stress, heart
related problems, and exhaustion (Stewart, 2009).
Reducing The Urban Effect
Natural settings
within urban environments allow people to access spaces developed to provide a
sense of peace and tranquility to the busy urban setting around them. Areas
that serve as social gathering spaces like zoos allow people in urban settings
to learn about wild animals, and explore other living creatures in a safe, and
sometimes more natural setting. Parks allow people to relax, play with friends,
or have family picnics that bring the family together for a warm, Sunday
afternoon. These distractions from the daily urban setting allow a person to
relax, which reduces stress levels, and improves individual satisfaction of
daily life.
Another method of
reducing stressors related to urban environments is noise pollution control.
New building materials designed to reduce noise from external sources is being
more widely used in new housing projects, and modern office interiors are
designed with furnishings that reduce noise pollution from within the office
environment. Technology has advanced to increase noise reduction in phone headsets
in call centers to allow employees to communicate with customers without
distractions, and the development of personal music systems like the iPod allow
individuals to use headsets to reduce noise levels in public transportation
mediums.
Conclusion
The human animal is a
complex creature in regard to perceptions of territory, personal space, and
privacy. The reason is he various factors related to how humans perceive these
issues. Cultural, societal, and inherent traits play major roles in how we perceive
the most personal aspects of our daily lives. In addition to how we perceive
these personal issues are other factors like population density, public access
to recreational environments, and noise pollution. Recreational resources allow
people to congregate in social environments to enjoy personal time with friends
and family, which results in reduced stress levels. Advancements in technology
allow buildings to reduce external noise sources that enable people to relax
more openly in home environments, and office designs incorporate new materials
in furnishings, and advancements in technology to help employees perform in a
more relaxed and professional environment.
References
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Kemp,
R. (2007). Privacy. Library Hi Tech, 25(1),
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Little,
K.B. (1965). Personal space. Journal of
Experimental Social Psychology, 1(3), 237-247.
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Novotney, A. (2004, December). New
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Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/monitor/2009/12/space.aspx
Oswalt, A. (2013). Early Childhood Gender Identity and Sexuality. Retrieved
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University of Ottawa law and technology journal, 2(2), 255-290.
Stewart, A.E. (2009,
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