Personal space is not as important to the French as it is to Anglo-Saxons and Americans. They are comfortable with a distance of one foot, while British people normally stand about two feet apart. In general, when you see French people conversing, they will stand in closer proximity than British or American people.
French people tend not to visit unannounced or uninvited. To do so is considered rude. When invited to a dinner, it is common for guests to ask their hosts if they are required to bring something on the day. Guests may also bring a bottle of wine or dessert.
The scientists found that residents of Argentina, Peru and Bulgaria stand the closest to strangers, while those from Romania, Hungary and Saudi Arabia want the most space.
For Parisians eye contact is a personal matter, much like your choice of wine, or infidelity in relationships. As a general rule, you have to avoid looking strangers in the eye; it's slightly offensive.
Hugging in France
Unlike Americans, the French do not use hugging as a greeting. Instead, they kiss cheeks (faire la bise) informally and shake hands in formal settings. Because they are not given often, hugs tend to make French people uncomfortable and can easily seem like an invasion of personal space.
4 – Flirting is an Artform in France
It's in our genes and it's socially accepted in France. A Frenchwoman is expected to play her feminine side, and be “admired” for her beauty and wit among other qualities. Frenchmen like to flirt as well, even if they know very well there is no hope of it leading anywhere.
There are some countries where people do not have a lot of personal space at all. For example, people who live in Bulgaria, Peru, and Argentina are known to stand very close to strangers. When people walk down the street in these countries, it is not unusual for people to stand right next to strangers as they walk.
A recent study has revealed Argentina as the country where people require the least amount of personal space. Researchers surveyed 9,000 people across 42 countries, and concluded that Argentines in general stand 2.5 feet away from strangers – much less than any other country.
In fact, in Japanese culture, people are taught not to maintain eye contact with others because too much eye contact is often considered disrespectful. For example, Japanese children are taught to look at others' necks because this way, the others' eyes still fall into their peripheral vision [28].
Anti-French sentiment (Francophobia or Gallophobia) is fear or antagonism of France, the French people, French culture, the French government or the Francophonie (set of political entities that use French as an official language or whose French-speaking population is numerically or proportionally large).
Without a doubt, the hardest part of learning French is the pronunciation. Written French and spoken French seem worlds apart at first, since there are a number of rules that dictate when certain letters are not pronounced, or words are suddenly squashed together.
Private. The French are private people and have different rules of behaviour for people within their social circle and those who are not. Although the French are generally polite in all dealings, it is only with their close friends and family that they are free to be themselves.
A US American described French arrogant behavior by saying: They are seen as feeling superior, snobbish with respect to history, fine wine, their intellectual tradition, that the US lacks.
Higher contact cultures stand closer to each other, make more eye contact, speak louder and incorporate touch more frequently. Examples of high contact cultures include those from the Middle East, Latin America and Southern Europe.
The nationalities that need their personal space
When it came to close chums, participants from Saudi Arabia (97cm), Hungary (83cm) and Canada (74cm) preferred keeping the most distance, while participants in Norway (35cm), Ukraine (40cm) and Argentina (40cm) felt most comfortable cosying up.
1. Intimate distance ranges from touching to about 18 inches (46 cm) apart, and is reserved for lovers, children, close family members, friends, and pets. 2. Personal distance begins about an arm's length away; starting around 18 inches (46 cm) from the person and ending about 4 feet (122 cm) away.
Social Preferences
Introverts need a lot of personal space. They like being in a room alone with the door closed and those who don't understand introverts believe this desire to be alone is a sign of depression. However, for introverts, this behavior is normal; it is not a sign of withdrawing from life.
You probably won't be surprised to learn that personal space varies from culture to culture. In Saudi Arabia, for example, if a stranger moves close to you to converse, you might find yourself unconsciously backing away (as in the case of Kramer and the close talker).
Public displays of affection in France
People kiss acquaintances when they meet them in the street and you even shake hand with the plumber when he comes to fix your leaky pipe: the French are definitely touchy-feely. So, in Paris (and other major cities) anything goes; elsewhere, be more restrained.
The French have an undeniable reputation when it comes to love and sex. They are passionate, enticing and simply irresistible. French people have a way with words and actions that's all about love. And when it comes to displaying their fairness in bed, they are said to be absolute sex gods!
There is no stigma attached to sex on a 1st date. It isn't considered a hookup or something sleazy, but just another aspect of getting to know each other. The couple can choose to or not, either way, it is their individual choice as well as as a couple.