I like travelling by train. Best of all, I like to sit in a window seat facing forwards. And preferably in a group of four seats all to myself. And I am obviously not the only person with this preference. Why is it, in fact, that we – as social animals – are so keen to sit by ourselves in a group of four seats? I asked Dr Klaus Jonas, Professor of Social Psychology at the University of Zurich.
Mr Jonas, many passengers board the train and look round for a group of four vacant seats where they can spread themselves out alone. Why is that?
There are various reasons. Firstly, the presence of members of the same species, i.e. other people, causes us to become a bit stressed. This is an innate reaction. Quite a lot of passengers are pretty stressed when they board the train anyway, for example after a busy day at work. If they are also stressed by being on a full train, the additional stress can result in a level that is perceived to be negative. Secondly, everyone wants to do their own thing on a train. Some want to relax or read a book, while others may want to make a phone call.
So these are the reasons – to reduce stress and to be able to do what you want to do – why people get as far away as possible from their fellow passengers. A bigger distance results in less stress. It is easier to do things like reading or relaxing if you are farther apart. You get less distracted and can concentrate better.
Does everyone have the same need for space? Or are there differences?
Yes, there are differences. These depend on your personality and on the situation. Regarding personality, introverted people experience more stress than extroverts do due to having strangers close to them. And it also depends on the situation. Working people who have had an exhausting day at work or who are preparing for an important meeting probably suffer from more stress due to their fellow passengers – especially if those fellow passengers are talking, making a phone call or being distracting in some other way.
Especially when using public transport in the rush hour, you can’t avoid travelling on a full train, bus or tram. What can we do to get through this miserable experience better?
Try to create a mental distance, for example by averting your gaze, looking at your smartphone or putting on headphones. And you shouldn’t do anything too difficult during the journey. If you try to read something complicated or make an important phone call, it requires so much self-control that your stress level in this situation is probably driven even higher to a very uncomfortable level. Instead, try to divert yourself away from the unpleasant situation and relax.
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