Tag Archive for Seating Position

Deciphering Cause And Effect From Seating Position

by  • March 6, 2013 • 0 Comments

So which is it cause or effect? What happens when you assign seating versus allow people to choose their seating? A study by Douglas Levine of the University of California in 1980 sought out to measure this exact question. The study examined two phases, one where students were allowed to choose their own seating and the second where seating was randomly assigned. They found that students sitting at the front did much better than those sitting at the rear but only if the seats were chosen by the students. When the seating was assigned there was no discernible different in test scores. They did find that student involvement was affected by seating however, as in both cases participation was greater for those sitting in the front seats. Thus, it becomes evident that students who want to learn more choose seats in the front rows because it allows them a better view of the teacher and also allows them to participate more. Those that want to blend in and avoid participation sit at the rear and sides. Other studies show that keener students often choose seats in the front and also those that relate better to the instructor will orient themselves in relation to them.

In another study conducted in 2004 arranged seating was found to affect test scores contrary to the study presented above. Here economics professors Mary Benedict and John Hoag at Bowling Green State University found that students who were forced forward produced a net gain in test scores. For example, a student who preferred a back seat but was forced to a center row, reduced the probability of receiving a D or F from twenty-three to twelve percent for an overall gain of eleven percent. The study also suggests a lower probability of receiving an A and a higher probability for receiving a D or F for those students forced from the middle aisle seats to the side aisle seats.

Therefore, when presenting information organized seating can have a subtle effect, but can be somewhat limited in scope. If you wish to wow someone in particular, position them in the front as you’ll be better able to connect with them. Those parties you wish to mute can be placed at the back-sides to reduce their ability to speak out. The data from research seems to suggest that audiences naturally arrange themselves according to how interested they are to learn especially in theater style auditoriums. Thus, this information can be used passively to choose the most qualified or interested parties for important projects.

Other strategies come from the walk and talk method taken from lab style learning. Here, the instructor is permitted to travel through rows and isle and connect with more than just the front row of listeners eliminating the side effects of rows and columns. Orienting seating into a horseshoe also eliminates the effects that rows and columns hold and so too does smaller group sizes. It’s much more difficult to be forgotten in a small group and functionally impossible when speaking one on one!

How To Be Forgotten – The “Center-Stage Effect”

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In a study conducted by the University of California Berkeley in 2006 that examined seating position, it was found that when seated in the middle of lecture halls, those in the middle tended to be overlooked. This would seem counterintuitive, but was replicated several times and in several different ways.

This “center-stage” effect was shown through observation of the game show “The Weakest Link” since they tended to be ignored more often than outlier players. If you aren’t familiar with the game, it involved a series of questions across several competitors but with only one winner. Each contestant is to answer a question in sequence associated with an ever increasing sum of money until the money is “banked” or kept, at which point the value amount is reset, but the round continues. At the end of each round the contestants vote on whom they’d like to eliminate. In the observations by the researchers, they found that despite the contestants being randomly assigned more winners came from the center of the stage rather than outliers. The center was often ignored as a pool from which people were “voted off.” This seems counterintuitive to most, as our common sense would tell us that the outliers should be less subject to attention.

When the experiment brought the game to the lab, the researchers found that observers often overlooked errors that players in the center of the stage made to a greater extent than errors in extreme positions. This gave center position holders more favourable assessments. It therefore follows that if you are not particularly adept at a task you might want to take center stage so as to reap the inherent leadership traits and avoid taking on negative stigma especially if being called upon is strong, and there is a good likelihood of providing the wrong answer. If you want to stand out and be remembered for it, take an outlier position where you will be called upon and stand a better chance of being remembered for it.

Competitive Head-To-Head Position

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When people face-off against one another, they tend to sit head-on across the table.

When people face-off against one another, they tend to sit head-on across the table.

Legal television dramas popularize this head-to-head seating position. Here each party faces directly across from the other person usually with their allies to their left and right solidifying their flanks. Another words for this position is the “closed” seating arrangement because it isolates people with the use of the desk. In the “open” arrangement a desk is pushed up against a wall and presents no barrier to visitors since they can access every part of a person when meeting with them. Closed positions convey formality, distance and authority, defensiveness and even divisiveness whereas open orientations convey interest and comfort.

Even when competition isn’t directly encouraged, research finds that the closed position still becomes an issue because the table provides a clear boundary between each party. Despite this, studies show that it is a very common way to sit in for casual conversations and at restaurants. The reason expressed is because it easily permits the exchange of information, affords good eye contact by filling the other persons view, and turns each person into the centre of attention. Thus, while it can be a constructive casual position amongst friends and family, it doesn’t serve well with new associates or where there is a desire to break down existing boundaries.

Interestingly when larger groups meet in the competitive arrangement with many people facing one another across a rectangular table, it is most often the person to the front of the speaker directly across the table that talks next, and rarely the person to their side. This has been termed the “Steinzor effect” and was named after the researcher Dr. Bernard Steinzor in 1950 who first discovered the occurrence. The head-to-head position creates discourse and necessitates the person at their face to respond, moreso than any other at the table. This only adds to the negative data that stem from head-to-head orientations and why we should avoid it when we wish to accomplish something other than fight.

Research conducted in the mid 1970’s by psychologist Richard Zweigenhaft of Guildord College in North Carolina found that faculty that used their office desks as a barrier by placing it in between them and their students were rated less positively in general and where rated especially poorly as it related to student interaction. The study found that faculty that did this were also older and had a greater academic rank. Thus, it was likely their subconscious tendency was to protect and maintain their rank between themselves and their students. Therefore, when meeting with new clients or where competition is likely but undesirable, avoid sitting in the head-to-head position if possible and remove whatever barriers separate you and whomever it is you wish to build a relationship with. However, if the desire is to reprimand an employee or anyone else and the goal to set clear boundaries, the table-in-between-position can emphasis division, thereby enhancing the message further. It will be up to you to decide exactly what orientation will suite you best and this will be wholly dependant on the goal you wish to attain while meeting.

Independent And Opposite Position

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When people sit to do work but do not want to talk to each other, they will sit in the "independent and opposite" seating arrangement. We see this with strangers in a limited seating cafeteria or in a library when strangers share tables.

When people sit to do work but do not want to talk to each other, they will sit in the “independent and opposite” seating arrangement. We see this with strangers in a limited seating cafeteria or in a library when strangers share tables.

When the object is to show independence, than an opposite, yet diagonal seating position is recommended. We see this most often in cafeteria style arrangements when sitting by oneself isn’t possible and tables are filled with strangers but we still want the most amount of privacy possible. Students will choose this arrangement when studying separately in a library as it permits independent thought and separation avoids any direct eye contact should either party need a break from their work. When subjects were asked to sit and do work quietly in one study this was the most common seating arrangement. Usually the space between the parties will be evenly split and be occupied by handbags, books, papers and other belongings to reserve them from being taken up. Obviously this position should be avoided when cooperation and affiliation formation is has the reverse effect. The independent and opposite position when it is not expected creates hostility and shows indifference.

Casual Corner Position

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The "casual corner" seating arrangement is best in business as it the table provides are partial barrier, yet does not prevent people from interacting together effectively.

The “casual corner” seating arrangement is best in business as it the table provides are partial barrier, yet does not prevent people from interacting together effectively.

The casual corner position is most appropriate to preserve closeness between people, but at the same time offers a partial barrier. The barrier in this case, is the corner of the table. If chairs are directly facing the table, it avoids direct eye contact, but if preferred, the chairs can face one another across the corner of the table to make sharing of information easier. This seating position is unique because it neatly allows for independent thought, but the proximity still permits intimacy.

When presenting new information to a client or trying to “sell them”, this is the most preferred orientation. It is also a useful way to conduct an interview without coming off as aggressive or competitive. In studies when students were asked to choose a seating arrangement that permitted conversation, this was the most often chosen arrangement.

The Chair Straddler

by  • March 5, 2013 • 0 Comments

The chair straddler is a dominant, yet cowardly sitting position, because for one, the seating position requires one to spread their legs wide open exposing the genitals, and two, because symbolically it is as if they were holding a shield against their chest. Crotch displays are typical for dominant people, especially men. Women can also sometimes display authority in this fashion but if done improperly it appears like a sexual invitation rather than a dominance display. Figuratively, chair straddlers are spears throwers or arrows flingers as they toss words at others from behind their barricade. It might not always be the intention of the staddler to come across this way, so it is our duty as good body language readers, to reserve judgment until we catalog enough cues in clusters. For every rule there are always exceptions. The point here though, is that other people will judge us poorly if we become the person that straddles chairs. Certain dominant body language is acceptable, but this isn’t one of them.

If you find yourself (over) exposed to a straddler, there are a few ways to disarm him from his shield. The first is to change your seating location so that he no longer faces you directly, exposing his genitals. You can also stand up altogether and even move behind him making his posture totally ineffective. By moving behind him, his back will become exposed and unprotected, causing him to tense up. The height differences will also force him to try to remain more erect and upright, so to speak, causing him to feel uncomfortable and annoyed in short order. A proficient straddler will then turn his chair (and his member) to face you, and just like a real-life chess game the pieces move strategically. This brings about the third technique, which is to overcrowd his personal space by standing over him, being careful to continuing the conversation. If all these techniques fail, and in most cases they won’t, you can always call him out on his attitudes and body language. Like calling anyone out for any reason, this is risky and can easily backfire alienate him altogether. In extreme situations, you might see no risk at all since all you stand to lose is an arrogant acquaintance.

Figure Four And Figure Four Hand Lock

by  • March 5, 2013 • 0 Comments

The figure four.

The figure four.

This body position occurs as one leg is bent, oriented horizontally and pulled over the opposite knee, to form the number four. Hence the name, the figure four leg cross. It is more or less an open posture and should be taken as a mild version of the crotch display which we saw in the section on leg spreading. This posture is milder because it doesn’t fully expose the crotch because the crossed leg partially blocks the genitals from view. This again, is another one of the cues that where it’s useful to picture our targets as being nude. In essence this is the gentleman’s version of the crotch display. Women aren’t normally seen in this posture, but since pants have become more popular, it does tend to happen more often lately, than it has in the recent past. The figure four tells us that a person is relaxed, youthful (mature gentleman are seen with a full leg cross where the legs end up parallel to one another) and dominant.

The 'figure four leg' lock - note the leg forms the 4 shape with hands locking it in.

The ‘figure four leg’ lock – note the leg forms the 4 shape with hands locking it in.

The figure four seating position can be close off entirely by placing each hand on the shine so as to lock the leg in place. This posture indicates that someone is extremely stubborn and most likely apt to reject opinions of others. The person is also highly opinionated in most every way and may lead you into disagreement at every turn. The figure four hand lock is stronger as a signal if it is accompanied by negative facial expressions, scowls, or frowns. If selling an idea or product, it might be best to drop the pitch altogether and seek more agreeable company unless you are comfortable using extreme tact or are skilled at building relationships quickly.