Most people know that awkward feeling when you shuffle into an elevator with other people and try not to make eye contact.
But new research suggests it may be down to a subconscious power struggle being played out as you make your way up or down.
A study found that people decide where they stand based on a micro social hierarchy, established within seconds of entering the lift.
Rebekah Rousi, a Ph.D. student in cognitive science, conducted an ethnographic study of elevator behaviour in two of the tallest office buildings in Adelaide, Australia.
As part of her research, she took a total of 30 lift rides in the two buildings, and discovered there was an established order to where people tended stand.
In a blog for Ethnography Matters, she writes that more senior men seemed to direct themselves towards the back of the elevator cabins.
She said: 'In front of them were younger men, and in front of them were women of all ages.'
She also noticed there was a difference in where people directed their gaze half way through the ride.
'Men watched the monitors, looked in the side mirrors (in one building) to see themselves, and in the door mirrors (of the other building) to also watch others.
'Women would watch the monitors and avoid eye contact with other users (unless in conversation) and the mirrors,' she writes.
The doctorate student concluded it could be that people who are shyer stand toward the front, where they can't see other passengers, whereas bolder people stand in the back, where they have a view of everyone else.
当你拖着脚和其他人一道走进电梯时,会尽量避开别人的目光,这种尴尬的感觉大多数人都了解。
但是新研究指出,在你上下电梯时,你的表现可能源自一种下意识的权利斗争。
一项研究发现,人们在进电梯后数秒之内,就会根据一种微观社会等级来决定自己站的位置。
认知科学专业的博士生瑞贝卡•茹茜在澳大利亚阿德莱德市最高的两座办公大楼里开展了一项关于电梯行为的人类学研究。
作为研究的一部分,她在这两座大楼里一共搭乘了30次电梯,并发现人们倾向于按既定的秩序来选择自己在电梯里站的位置。
在“人种志事态”博客中,她写道,地位较高或年长的男人似乎更喜欢站在电梯轿厢的后面。
她写道:“站在老年男人前面的是年轻一些的男人,站在年轻男人前面的是各个年龄段的女人。”
她还注意到,人们在乘梯途中目光的方向也有差异。
她写道:“男人会看看电梯楼层显示器,看一下(其中一座大楼)侧面镜子中的自己,或看看(另一座大楼的)镜面门反射出的别人的影像。
“女人则会盯着电梯楼层显示器,避免和其他用户发生眼神接触(除非有人和自己谈话),或者看镜子。”
这名博士生得出结论说,那些比较害羞的人会站在电梯前面,这样他们就看不到其他乘客,而胆子较大的人会站在后面,这样他们就能看到每个人。
体坛英语资讯:Macedonia capital prepares for Shkendija-Milan Europa League qualifier
国内英语资讯:Troops from PLA Macao Garrison mobilized for typhoon disaster relief in Macao
国内英语资讯:Chinese naval hospital ship Peace Ark provides free medical services in Djibouti
恋恋七夕节:七夕有关短语翻译
体坛英语资讯:European football needs transfer window compulsory for all leagues, says Watzke
暗黑系霉霉上线,新单曲上周已发行!
体坛英语资讯:Real Sociedad leaders as Barca win and Madrid drop points on Spains matchday 2o
国际英语资讯:Syrian, Russian military destroy over 800 terrorists in major ISIL unit
体坛英语资讯:Chinas Lin Dan reaches semifinals at badminton worlds
表达否定的常见翻译方式
国际英语资讯:Trump signs executive order imposing new sanctions on Venezuela
国际英语资讯:Hurricane Harvey strengthens to Category 3 storm as alerts issued
国际英语资讯:APEC dialogue in Vietnam discusses free trade agreements
体坛英语资讯:Ghana coach launches initiative to support retired players
国际英语资讯:Venezuela FM blasts new U.S. sanctions on Caracas
体坛英语资讯:No Ronaldo or Ramos, but Madrid have depth for home debut
国际英语资讯:U.S. continues to seek peaceful solution despite DPRKs recent missile launch: U.S. top dip
国际英语资讯:Merkel rules out cooperation with far-right AfD
中国重拳治理水污染 上半年启动8000个治污项目
如何提高你的阅读速度
2017上半年亚马逊畅销书榜单,有你喜欢的书吗?
国际英语资讯:233 people treated after suspected chemical leak along Britains southern coast: officials
国内英语资讯:China to make sure 2022 Winter Olympic Games great success: President Xi
国内英语资讯:Commentary: India to face the consequences of its strategic miscalculation
国内英语资讯:China upgrades alert for Typhoon Pakhar
体坛英语资讯:13th National Games of China open in Tianjin
国际英语资讯:Kyrgyzstan president appoints new PM
国际英语资讯:Ex-Thai PM Yingluck flees to Dubai: media
强迫症原来这么可怕!英国妹子患强迫症 自曝一天洗头72次
国际英语资讯:Helicopter belonging to MSDF possibly crashes: Japan Defense Ministry