There are rules in which people follow in elevators whether
you know it or not. For example, if there are only two or three people on an
elevator, each person usually leans against the walls. If a fourth person
boards the elevator, the four corners are normally occupied. This would be
because of our personal “space.” When someone is to close in an elevator people
usually will feel very uncomfortable and get off at the next stop and wait for
the next elevator or use the stairs “if any”. When there are more than four
people on an elevator, the boarders begin to follow a set of rules for behavior.
Everyone turns to face the door. Hands and belongings hang down in front of the
body. People usually scrunch up, rounding their shoulders, so that they take up
as little space as possible. If you see an overcrowded elevator, you will
probably choose to wait for the next one. Eye contact is a huge rule in an
elevator; people don’t look at each other they typically look at the floor indicator
found above the door. If you think this is exaggerated, the next time you are
on an elevator, don’t face the door turn around and face toward the other people,
or sit down. Then see what their reaction is.
