The New Republic: We’re all bad neighbors now
UC proxemics expert Vikas Mehta speaks to the redefining of personal space
Vikas Mehta, on faculty at UC's School of Design, was interviewed by The New Republic to weigh in on the changing dynamic of personal and public spaces.
According to the article, a 2021 study, conducted at Massachusetts General Hospital with just 19 participants, who were tested before and during the pandemic. The study found that the subjects’ perception of their personal space expanded by 40 to 50 percent on average in response to these public health measures. What was once a roughly three-foot-wide bubble growing, by the second assessment, to about 4.1 feet around.
Data on noise complaints rising over the last decade also indicates that people are more easily ruffled by intrusions into their space.
The radii of our personal circles “are not static,” says Mehta, a professor of urbanism in the College of Design, Architechture, Art and Planning.
The article discusses how extending the boundaries of personal space has spilled over to public spaces such as sidewalks and subways and could be contributing to violent behavior.
Featured photo at top courtesy of Unsplash/Ryoji Iwata
Related Stories
Tips to avoid headaches this holiday season
December 15, 2025
A University of Cincinnati migraine expert offered a list of potential headache triggers around the holidays, and how you can try to avoid them, to 91.7 WVXU News. "There are a number of different factors that make this a very headache provocative time," said Vincent Martin, MD, professor of clinical medicine at the University of Cincinnati's College of Medicine and director of the Headache and Facial Pain Center at the Gardner Neuroscience Institute.
Local couple uses royalties from children's books to give gifts to kids in need
December 15, 2025
A local couple has found a unique way to give back to those in need this holiday season. Vic and Laura Troha wrote two children's books together, and this year, they are using the proceeds to buy Christmas gifts for Hamilton County foster kids. The couple are both graduates of the University of Cincinnati's College of Allied Health Sciences and met the day they graduated.
The hottest toys this holiday season
December 15, 2025
Local 12 turned to Lindner College of Business associate professor-educator of marketing Roseann Hassey to explain what’s got the trendiest items flying off the shelves.