Territoriality can have an impact on group communication, as we generally feel more in control of situations on our own turf (Chapters 9 and 10). Think about this the next time a professor breaks you up into random groups. Do you enjoy moving across the room from your usual seat, or do you prefer your group members to come to you? Chances are good that a new “territory” will affect your communication.
Closely related to proxemics is territoriality—the claiming of an area, with or without legal basis, through continuous occupation of that area. Your home, your car, and your office are personal territories. But territories also encompass implied ownership of space, such as a seat in a classroom, a parking space, or a table in a restaurant. Few people like anyone encroaching on their territory. If you’re a fan of How I Met Your Mother, then you know that nothing good can come from taking the booth that Ted and his crew have unofficially claimed.