Why do we behave so oddly in lifts?

[Evil Eye]

Many of us use them several times a day without really noticing. And yet the way we behave in lifts, or elevators as they are known in the US, reveals a hidden anxiety.



Most of us sort of shut down.



We walk in. We press the button. We stand perfectly still.



Taking the lift could be the least memorable part of your journey to work, but Dr Lee Gray of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte has made it his business to scrutinise this overlooked form of public transportation. People refer to him as the Elevator Guy.



The lift becomes this interesting social space where etiquette is sort of odd, he explains. They are socially very interesting but often very awkward places.



Conversations that have been struck up in the lobby tend to be extinguished quite quickly in the thick atmosphere of the office elevator. We walk in and usually turn around to face the door.



If someone else comes in, we may have to move. And here, it has been observed that lift-travellers unthinkingly go through a set pattern of movements, as predetermined as a square dance.



On your own, you can do whatever you want - it's your own little box.



If there are two of you, you take different corners. Standing diagonally across from each other creates the greatest distance.



When a third person enters, you will unconsciously form a triangle (breaking the analogy that some have made with dots on a dice). And when there is a fourth person it's a square, with someone in every corner. A fifth person is probably going to have to stand in the middle.



Now we are in uncharted territory. New entrants to the lift will need to size up the situation when the doors slide open and then act decisively. Once in, for most people the protocol is simple - look down, or examine your phone.

Full article: http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-19846214





Have you noticed this behaviour?

Do you feel comfortable in lifts?

 

[Raven]

Yes, We have a small lift at work. I will not get in a lift if there are more than 3 people in it. If it is a bigger lift then maybe, but I don't like being in crowded places. Especially lifts.

 

[Evil Eye]

Something I noticed today with this in the back of my head: it's not just lifts.

We have (loads of) these benches at (most) train stations, they have two arm rests separating the things into three seats. People nearly always prefer a completely empty bench. When sitting down on an empty bench, they'll sit at either end, rarely in the centre. Once all benches have one person occupying them in this manner, people will start sitting at the other end (leaving an empty seat between each pair). Once all benches have two people, there's a decent chance people will simply remain standing rather than sitting down between two other people.

Another thing, people just don't seem to like trains. It's like they have a need to get off one as soon as they can. To illustrate my point: people will get up and walk towards the doors before the train has stopped moving (or even entered the station). The doors are opened by pushing a button surrounded by green lights, these lights turn on when the doors can actually be opened. People will be pushing the button repeatedly before the lights turn on, even when the train is still moving. They won't stop till the doors start to open. Once people actually get off the train they generally stop being this hasty and assume a normal/slow walking pace.



Yeah, I've travelled by train a few times recently...

 

[The Dragon Master]

Nope I don't. I stand at stare at the people in front of me and see if I can do that thing where if you stare at the top of people's head, they'll think there's an itch or something.

 

[Raven]

Something I noticed today with this in the back of my head: it's not just lifts.

We have (loads of) these benches at (most) train stations, they have two arm rests separating the things into three seats. People nearly always prefer a completely empty bench. When sitting down on an empty bench, they'll sit at either end, rarely in the centre. Once all benches have one person occupying them in this manner, people will start sitting at the other end (leaving an empty seat between each pair). Once all benches have two people, there's a decent chance people will simply remain standing rather than sitting down between two other people.

Another thing, people just don't seem to like trains. It's like they have a need to get off one as soon as they can. To illustrate my point: people will get up and walk towards the doors before the train has stopped moving (or even entered the station). The doors are opened by pushing a button surrounded by green lights, these lights turn on when the doors can actually be opened. People will be pushing the button repeatedly before the lights turn on, even when the train is still moving. They won't stop till the doors start to open. Once people actually get off the train they generally stop being this hasty and assume a normal/slow walking pace.



Yeah, I've travelled by train a few times recently...

Same at the cinema or sports events.



And I do the latter, It's like a mini panic attack that it's not going to stop or I'll miss the stop. I'm worse on tubes, but then I will not go on tubes unless I have too. It's all psychological.

 

[Evil Eye]

Are you a little claustrophobic?

It's all psychological.

Indeed.

I wouldn't know, but I imagine psych-students could have some fun with it all.

 

[Raven]

Are you a little claustrophobic?

Indeed.

I wouldn't know, but I imagine psych-students could have some fun with it all.

In places where I can't get out easily.