美国人类学家霍尔认为影响文化的主要因素有：时间、空间和情境（指文化资源对情境依存的相关性，包括语言、宗教、政治、历史、习俗、地域、价值观等子要素）。让我们看看英国人和美国人会有怎样的文化差异。
The contrasting English and American patterns have some remarkable implications, particularly if we assume that man, like other animals, has a built-in need to shut himself off from others from time to time. An English student in one of my seminars typified what happens when hidden patterns clash. He was quite obviously experiencing strain in his relationships with Americans. Nothing seemed to go right and it was quite clear from his remarks that we did not know how to behave. An analysis of his complaints showed that a major source of irritation was that no American seemed to be able to pick up the subtle clues that there were times when he didn't want his thoughts intruded on. As he stated it, "I'm walking around the apartment and it seems that whenever I want to be alone my roommate starts talking to me. Pretty soon he's asking 'what's the matter?' and wants to know if I'm angry. By then I am angry and say something."
It took some time but finally we were able to identify most of the contrasting features of the American and British problems that were in conflict in this case. When the American wants to be alone he goes into a room and shuts the door—he depends on architectural features for screening. For an American to refuse to talk to someone else present in the same room, to give him the "silent treatment" is the ultimate form of rejection and a sure sign of great displeasure.
The English, on the other hand, lacking rooms of their own since childhood, never developed the practice of using space as a refuge from others. They have in effect internalized a set of barriers, which they erect and which others are supposed to recognize. Therefore, the more the Englishman shuts himself off when he is with an American the more likely the American is to break in to assure himself that all is well. Tension lasts until the two get to know each other. The important point is that the spatial and architectural needs of each are not the same at all.
Excerpt From The Hidden Dimension: Man's Use of Space in Public and Private
By Edward T. Hall
［参考译文］
英国人和美国人
爱德华·T. 霍尔
英美人的模式对比意味深长，如果我们假定人像其他动物一样有内在的需要经常把自己保护起来，免受他人打扰，这些意义就更为明显。在我的一个研讨会上，一位英国学生的行为突出表现了当潜在的模式发生碰撞时可能出现的情况。他与美国人在一起时非常紧张。看起来一切都乱套了，显然他的话里的意思是我们美国人不懂规矩。对其抱怨的分析结果表明，他恼羞成怒的主要原因是，当他不希望别人对他的想法进行攻击时，美国人似乎并没有理解他时不时给出的细微暗示。他说，“我在公寓里踱步，每次我想独处，我的室友就开始跟我讲话。很快，他就问我‘你怎么了？’，想知道我是不是生气。这个时候，我就大发雷霆，吵起来。”
虽然花了一些时间，但是最后我们还是发现英美人之间的大多数突出问题就是类似这样的冲突。当美国人想一个人待着时，他就会走进房间，关上房门——他依赖建筑特征与外人隔离。对美国人来说，拒绝与在同一个房间的另外一个人讲话时，对其他人“漠然视之”是最严重的拒绝方式，也是极度不高兴的明显表现。然而英国人从孩提时代开始就是没有自己的房间，从来不会把空间作为远离他人的避难所。他们形成了一套屏障，这由他们建立，并且希望他人能够了解。因此，英国人与美国人在一起时，越封闭自己，美国人就越需要进入他们的世界以确定没什么状况。直到相互之间了解，这种紧张关系才会得以缓和。关键在于英美人之间的空间和建筑需要根本就完全不一样。
［注释］
pick up the subtle clues ：心领神会
the ultimate form of rejection ：最严厉的拒绝方式
shut off ：分开，与人隔开
-spatial [ˈspeɪʃəl] adj. 空间的 of, or having the nature space
［作者简介］
爱德华·T. 霍尔（Edward T. Hall, 1914-2009），美国作家兼人类学家，一直致力于人类对其周围空间的反应研究。霍尔博士提出一般人常用的四种界限：亲密距离（0cm—45cm）；私人距离（45cm—75cm）；礼貌距离（120cm—210cm）和一般距离（360cm—750cm或更远）。