Ch3+R1

CHAPTER THREE 1st draft see revised The goal of this study was to examine the general substantive area of distance education for patterns of behavior to develop a theory that explains the actions of the participants. The emphasis is on the way that people use a specific pattern of behavior to solve problems or resolve concerns.
 * Keeping your distance, a theory of human social behavior.**

The first indication of the core variable came from the analysis of an interview conducted with Sarah C. (not her real name), a young woman who was using distance education to complete university studies while living and working in a small town. She was faced with the options and opportunity to move to a larger city to participate in face to face university courses but chose not to do so. Her explanations for her choices involved issues of personal finance but she also expressed a distinct desire to remain at a physical distance from the city and from the face to face institution. It became apparent that one of the issues she was working on was keeping her distance from situations that she perceived as being dangerous, annoying or unnecessary. In this situation, and given the opportunity, she was using distance education to enable her to keep her distance from the perceived negative aspects of involvement with face-to-face education.

Further analysis of this interview and interviews with other individuals using distance education confirmed a regular pattern of behavior whereby people choose a course of study that allows them to minimize contact with people, conditions, circumstances and institutions that they found undesirable. I named this pattern "keeping your distance" and began to see this pattern of behavior in other arenas of social interaction. One early suggestion that confirmed the core variable was a discussion with a individual who reported choosing his place of residence with the strategy of "keeping your distance" as a foremost consideration. This individual choose an area with a significant separation from neighbors, and made it clear that access to the property was by invitation only at the discretion of the home owner and family.

Detecting indicators of this pattern of behavior required a variety of strategies. Once the major category of KYD was determined the search continued for properties and categories, dimensions and indicators. Some of these revealed themselves with straight-forward inspection but many aspects revealed them self fleetingly as if seen from the corner of my eye and took a some concentration to examine. Other aspects of this theory revealed themselves by way of contrast, examining cultural incidents and using abductive reasoning to find the best explanation of the observed phenomenon.

Yet other indicators revealed themselves in artifacts of larger patterns of human behavior, historical and current. Some indicators were taken from instances of a breakdown of KYD strategies and the consequent repercussions for the people involved. Like Heidegger's hammer, the system only revealed itself when it was broken.

Theoretical sampling from the literature and anecdotal material from the field of distance education revealed a number of persistent perspective regarding the experience of people engaged in DE.

One of the preconceptions that existed at the outset was that distance education is affected negatively by a sense of distance and that it leads to a feeling of isolation and alienation. While this perception is not necessarily part of any explicit theory of distance education, it is an oft mentioned concern and one for which a great deal of energy is expended. GTM analysts recognize that preconceptions and extent theories may devalue a potential grounded theory into a exercise in verification rather than an explanatory theory. However, preconceptions and extent theories can be taken as data for a grounded theory as long as they "earn" their way into the analysis. In this analysis the theoretical position that distance education negatively affected students because it made them feel distant did not earn its way into the theory. Interview analysis indicated that the dimension of distance added value to the experience of distance education.

This report suggested that "keeping your distance" was the theoretical basis for action in many realms of social behavior. Additional data was collected from interviews from outside of the initial identified pool of respondents, users of distance education and the pattern appeared to hold steady. Once the core variable was selected analysis progressed to determining categories of KYD and the properties of those categories. Other sources of data were examined for indicators of KYD, media reports, collegial comments and documents were examined to broaden the scope of inquiry. Literature from the initial area of interest was examined for ideas and concepts rather than theoretical material. The analysts personal experience was also included as a source of data in the form of self interview. Memos were written from the beginning of the analysis and were compiled in an online word processor and online concept mapping tool. Once the core variable was selected, analysis progressed to determining categories of KYD and the properties and dimensions of those categories. Extant theories were considered as indicated by the direction of the analysis and for the purpose of revealing further properties of KYD and to provide analytical codes. Theoretical sampling was intentionally eclectic to ensure a broad range of data sources. Ideas were used from various theories of psychology, sociology, philosophy and religious studies. There was no attempt made to force the theory of KYD into one particular field or discipline.

Initial analysis examined a number of categories KYD depending on a number of properties of distance. Personal distance, emotional distance, psychological distance, institutional distance, cultural distance, professional distance, technological distance.The theory of KYD can be conceptualized as energizing action in these categories. Each of these categories is further separated into subcategories for clearer understanding. The dimensions of KYD within each subcategory serve to further explain the way that individuals use KYD to address specific concerns or problems they face in their interactions. Analysis focused on the causes, conditions, contexts, contingencies, consequences, covariances of each category.
 * Properties of KYD**

Keeping your distance is a theory about a pattern of behavior people use to manage personal social interactions and engagement. A very common expression is that someone needs to "put a little distance" between themselves and something else. This distance may have temporal, spatial and/or experiential elements. The object of the exercise is to gain or regain personal control over a situation or relationship that is problematic or pathological. While KYD is often an implicit theory it, none-the-less motivates and energizes a broad range of activities. KYD plays a significant role in the choices of school and mode of learning. Beyond the substantive arena of distance education, KYD is a basic social process that influences choices that people make with respect to their career, their neighborhood, their spouse, their clothing and the groups that they associate with.
 * The function of Keeping your Distance**

While people may express a desire to have lots of friends and associates and to be a team player their actions often signal that they are operating on a theory that is very different from the one that they publicly espouse. A recent study of loss of control purported to show people often see patterns where none exist in an attempt to give structure and security to unpredictable situations. The suggestion was that people erroneously choose to believe in religious or supernatural explanations. This may be the case but it is also possible that people use a template such as religious explanations to explain confusing patterns until they have enough data to make a more favorable choice. KYD is another default pattern of behavior that is used in a similar way. People keep their distance until they have enough information about whether they want to approach or avoid a situation.

Distance is very important concept to human beings. The concrete understanding of distance as a spatial relationship between humans and the world is a remnant of prehistoric processes that ensured physical survival. Our earliest ancestors understood the necessity of proximity to food, water and shelter and the importance of maintaining a healthy and respectful distance between groups competing for resources. As technology advanced the concept of distance changed but remained of paramount importance to survival. The idea of attributing current human behavioral patterns to adaptations that occurred in our prehistoric past is a common concept and a concern of [|evolutionary psychology]. Here is one that attributes the way we search the web to instincts and gender specific patterns of behavior developed when we were hunter gatherers. This fits with the idea of "distance being a critical concern of humans which has a long survival value and hence gets taken into our general human make up.
 * Etiology of KYD** Things that cause, contribute and correlate

The transmutation of the concept of distance from concrete to symbolic indicates the general importance of the concept. The use of the concept of distance is ubiquitous in everyday language reflected in expressions. Distance is used to express, not only spatial but, also temporal and experiential relationships. We speak of "putting a little distance" between ourselves and a person or event or experience. Keeping your distance is a common term that indicates an implicit theory of action. Maintaining a functional distance is a basic pattern of human behavior that explains many of the conscious and unconscious choices that people routinely make.

Polkinghorne theorizes that " Human existence consists of a stratified system of differently organized realms of reality - the material realm, the organic realm, and the mental realm. Narrative meaning is on of the processes of the mental realm and functions to organize elements of awareness into meaningful episodes." Further he states that "In the course of human evolution entirely new levels of reality emerge" and "because human existence is embedded to various degrees in the material, the organic,and meaning realms, it includes within itself the three basic structures of reality- matter, life and consciousness. Each structure operates according to its own peculiar organizational pattern, the operations of the higher more recently developed levels (for example, those involved with the deliberative and reflective use of language) is influenced by the peculiar organization of the lower levels." Polkinghorne's three realms offer a useful set of codes by which to analyze KYD.

The development of KYD as a strategy originates in adolescence and there is an abundance of extant theory from the field of child and adolescent development regarding independence and autonomy. These are cultural forces and have been subject to change in recent times.

Popular art offers data about human behavior patterns such as KYD. The 2006 movie //Failure to Launch// dramatized the activities of an individual with delayed social development. This movie is about a 30 year old who still lives with his parents and the subtext is that he has failed to become an independant adult. The failure is largely a failure to learn the principles with regard to maintaining the appropriate distance from family. The significance for the theory of KYD is that it is a learned behavior that can be delayed, but can be learned by remedial education. It is important to learn the appropriate boundaries and to maintain an effective distance even from your closest relatives, your parents and sibling. KYD is basic to the skill set of an independant autonomous adult.

Sarah C. clearly articulated the reasons that she preferred distance education. It allowed her to keep her distance from a number of unacceptable, threatening, or undesirable features of face-to-face education. She clearly articulated the genesis of this attitude and attributed it to being shy and being bullied in junior and high school. As a foster child growing up in multiple homes and small towns she experienced a number of emotional challenges. She reported that much of the bullying that she endured growing up was of an emotional nature although occasionally there was physical violence. She did not attribute any particular childhood or adolescent difficulties to her visible minority status and attributed more problems to her family name. Her family name is distinctive and clearly identifies her as part of a particular clan within an ethnic group.

Context played a major role in the development of Sarah's KYD system. She had spent sometime in a major urban center but had been drawn into a subculture based on her minority ethnic status. The prevalence of substance abuse and criminal behavior in the major center were very unattractive features and her tendency to keep her distance was caused in part by a reluctance to get drawn into that lifestyle. Attending university while living an urban setting presented to many challenges and she failed. Another element of the urban university setting that was problematic was her ability to support herself financially. Housing costs, transportation costs, tuition and fees and the inability to find well paid work were problematic. She found that living in a small rural center and completing university course work using computer mediated distance education solved a number of her problems. In addition in the small town where she settled she was a valued employee and the cost of living was very manageable. This formed a significant part of her overall strategy to keep her distance from circumstances that were unproductive, limiting and dangerous. Her pattern of "keeping her distance" included maintaining distance from unemployment, distraction, bullying, emotional discomfort and the antisocial behavior of her peers. She assembled the parts of her behavioral strategy based on her experience. Sarah studied mostly in a local education support center where she had access to computers and educational resources. She mentioned that one of her difficulties in school was the distracting presence of other people. Even if the other students were not being disruptive, the mere presence disturbed her concentration. For this reason, Sarah always chose a seat at the front of the room where she did not have to see any other students. She arranged her visual sphere keep her distance from disruptive visual cues.

As an implicit theory of action, KYD develops over the course of time, with contributions from a number of factors including gender, ethnicity, age, SES, marital status, and life stage. One source of data that was subjected to the constant comparative process was the extant theory of "personal space" as put forward by various theorists from the fields of psychology, anthropology, archeology and sociology. For example, the concept of "proxemics". These theories correlate with KYD and suggest some categories for this analysis but KYD is distinctive in that it is the emic or personalized set of strategies. The strategies are consciously chosen but the underlying motives may not be completely conscious or acknowledged.

In the early stages of this analysis, further interview subjects were chosen from a pool of students using distance education. Walter W. (not his real name) described his experience with education and articulate very similar themes to those that Sarah mentioned. In Walters case, neither social awkwardness nor ethnic considerations played a significant role in the development of his pattern of KYD but the economic and logistical considerations were very similar. Walter was a mature student who expressed a measure of impatience and disdain for organized institutional education. His KYD pattern allowed him to pursue career goals without having to come into close proximity to institutions and their agents. He wanted the learning experience but considered much of the activity of routine classroom attendance to be counterproductive and irritating. Walter acknowledged that this tendency for him was not exclusive to education and his KYD strategy applied much more generally and directed much of his regular activities.

Mary N. was also a mature student who had used distance education because she liked to be able to set her own pace for learning, she like to have control of the conditions of her learning and she like that she could keep her distance from "the bozos" who were not as disciplined or committed to learning. In Mary's case religious intolerance may have been an issue and the interview data type switched to a properline mode. The emerging pattern of behavior of distance education students suggested that samples be drawn from the pool of providers of distance education to determine it the phenomena was exclusive to distance education. Online instructors reported that they appreciated the distance that they could maintain in their professional relationship with students and a number reported seeking out opportunities to teach by distance for that reason. The impression was that teachers could concentrate on teaching if they could keep a distance from the myriad annoying personal foibles of their students.

At this point it became clear that KYD was the basic social process of interest and the analysis shifted to determine if the pattern held outside of the arena of distance education. Since the putative core variable had emerged the grand tour question shifted somewhat and the process of constant comparative analysis began. A prefatory statement was offered describing the general concept of KYD and individuals were asked it they recognized this pattern of behavior. A number of collegial conversations also confirmed that KYD was a recognized pattern of behavior and that it constituted a basic social process. Most conceded that they recognized the pattern in their own behavior and began volunteering examples and variations. Other sources of data were examined for indications of KYD. An internet search of the term yielded no direct hits under that specific term. This was encouraging as it indicated that this was a basic social process that had not been examined in depth. KYD was a better explanation for a number of observed phenomena that the theory given to support the observation. A series of six quantitative studies were performed and the analysis suggested that when there was ambiguity individuals fell back on a reliance in witchcraft, magic, or religon.

Taking apart this term is useful to present the theory of KYD. 'Keeping' implies that this pattern of behavior is something that an individual owns, values, and maintains. Keeping is the gerund form of keep and implies action. 'Your' indicates that this is a personal strategy that is engage through interaction with others. Also indicates that much of the negotiation that occurs is internal. Although it may guide external behavior often the processes are internal and may not be conscious. 'Distance' is a very complex and meaning laden concept for human beings. Reflected in the ubiquitous use of the term and concept across an broad spectrum of human activity in the material, organic and meaning realms of reality. KYD can be conceptualized as a meme, an element of a culture that may be considered to be passed on by non-genetic means, esp. imitation.
 * Hermaneutics of the term "Keeping your Distance"**

The largest part of this analysis is given to an understanding of the category of personal distancing. Personal distancing relates to the psychological, emotional, cultural and professional spheres of individual activity. Personal distancing develops as an unconscious reaction to life events, life stages, traumas or triumphs. It may be part of a conscious strategy and may be adaptive or maladaptive. Personal distancing has a number of dimensions. Within normal ranges a person maybe a social butterfly or a recluse. The social butterfly choose activities where they are constantly engaged in activities that have high density of people for extended periods. The phenomenon of crowded clubs, raves or concerts satisfy a need to be among a press of humanity. On the other hand a person who has a higher KYD threshold may choose outdoor or wilderness activities where the chances of human contact are minimal. When KYD is taken into the realm of pathology a person maybe clinging and emotionally crippled by dependence. This often results in patterns of reactions from others and is well documented in the literature of co-dependence in the field of addictions. On the other end of the spectrum of pathology a person maybe hostile and isolationist shunning all human contact. This extreme usually evokes characteristic behavioral patterns. This interaction is illustrated by examples from the experience of homeless persons. The KYD impulse is so strong that individuals would rather endure the discomfort of street life in a harsh and dangerous environment than be subjected to circumstances where they were unable to control their proximity to others or, more often, their distance from institutions.
 * Personal Distancing**

Autonomy and control. Issues of autonomy figure prominently in the theroy of KYD. Personal control of ones engagement in the world is highly valued.

Subcategories of Personal Distancing Psychological Folk psychology Emotional As pathology. There are patterns of behavior that demonstrate extremes of KYD type behavior. Autism and other disorders that have a strong element of social isolation and need for solitude, lack of interaction with others and a failure to engage in intimate relationships. The hermit sets themselves away from society for a spiritual reason. Agoraphobia is in part manifest as maintaining distance. The misanthrope is a case of an extreme aspect of KYD although a misanthrope may still engage but with disdain. Solitude is a choice although inadvertent solitude as in marooned persons apparently does no lasting psychological harm and in fact has been connected to spiritual enlightenment. A modern day version of the Robinson Crusoe story is Cast Away with Tom Hanks and Wilson his imaginary companion. Explores the themes of isolation and loss as a consequence of insurmountable distance.

KYD as punishment or torture as in solitary confinement, shunning. Mechanism to do psychological harm or as a means of organizational influence and control.

KYD is a significant factor in managing emotional attachments. Male/female courtship rituals rely on KYD strategies with many displays and devices that signify an individuals relative openness to approach and engagement. The use of fashion, mannerisms, spoke language, body language can be used to block or encourage approach. These can be carefully tailored to encourage the approach of certain individuals while keeping others at a distance. An individual who is interested in hip-hop music will select clothing, make up, jewelry etc that will keep those not interested in hip-hop at a distance. Emotional distancing occurs within committed relationships as well and most relationships go through a period of identifying boundaries and boundary markers. Most individuals develop an emotional firewall that allows relationships to progress at a speed and to a depth that is emotionally manageable. No man is an island, is an exhortation to avoid the extremes of KYD.

There are many instances of cultural KYD in evidence. The Apartheid of South Africa, the caste systems of India, systems of human slavery, the Indian reserve systems of North America are all instances of complex systems designed to limit the interactions between cultures by defining the limits of approach for individuals from different cultures. Many of these KYD arrangements had extreme consequences for ignoring the limits. Many religious communities are very careful to keep their distance from general society. Similarly, many religions practice 'shunning or the physical distancing of a community from apostate members of the community.
 * Cultural distancing**

We signal the desire to keep our distance in many ways. Strategies may include managing physical proximity but can also involve other choices that we make in terms of the language we choose, body language we use and clothing we wear. When a person wears a leather vest boots, tattoos, long hair and a beard it sends a signal to others to maintain a certain distance unless you have an affinity for that type of person. A person can signal their affinity for a certain lifestyle by the choice of body decoration, jewelry or clothing. The language chosen also signals an invitation for like minded individuals to approach and for people with dissimilar views to avoid.

Many professional relationships have proscribed distances that are carefully maintained. There are a set of, usually tacit, rules that lay out the terms of engagement. Helping relationships such as doctor/patient, student/teacher, therapist/client may have formalized rules (and often legislation) to set out the acceptable distances. Each partner to the relationship uses a KYD strategy to maintain an optimal, functional distance. Therapeutic relationships are particularly interesting because of the emotional operations entailed in the exchange. Many of the activities in such relationships mimic intimate relationships. Personal disclosure is necessary but the purpose is therapeutic rather than romantic. The phenomenon of transference is a process that can require the expenditure of much psychic energy. Wilton's analysis of KYD Balancing Political Engagement and Scientific Autonomy with a Psychiatric Consumer/Survivor Group.
 * Professional distancing**

A corollary to KYD is practiced by institutions which seek to bind individuals into proprietary relationships by a variety of means. Examining this perspective provides a contrast that illuminates the concept of KYD. Educational institutions expend a great deal of effort countering the KYD impulse and use a range of strategies to attract suitable candidates to fill enrollment quotas. Many of these strategies fall under the rubric of marketing or recruitment and retention, areas that involve substantial portions of many institutions budget. They may use positive energies seek to inculcate affinities for the institution through a number of mechanisms. These mechanisms may be practical such as the promoting of the potential for career building connections gained exclusively through the institution. The mechanism maybe emotional and appeal to the desire to carry on a fine family tradition, so called legacy students. Other mechanism include a systematic program of progressive fees and supports. First year students may get substantially free tuition and as they progress through a course of study the tuition increase for each subsequent year. Other appeals may include sports involvement, scholarships, fellowships and other professional, social or community affiliations. An often unspoken appeal of university enrollment is the opportunity to choose a life partner from a pool of those in a complementary socioeconomic class, a sophisticated marriage market.
 * Institutional Distancing/Binding**

The relationship between individuals and institutions is characterized by a dynamic tension between attraction and repulsion and is mediated by an individuals KYD strategy set. Younger students often have a less restrictive KYD strategy set as a consequence of not having life experience. Older people who have engaged with institutions with negative personal consequences may often have a highly developed KYD strategy set. KYD varies with changes in personal options or demographic changes.

What do you mean when you say you are keeping your distance from something or somebody. What problem are you trying to solve, what issues are you working on? What pattern of behavior do you exhibit when you are keeping your distance? People instantly recognize the meaning of the term "keeping your distance" applied in many contexts. It can be seen as a cautionary admonition for individuals or groups. It is a pattern of behavior that is meant to maintain a desired state and avoid a potentially undesirable state. It can be applied in a physical sense but is also used in an emotional or psychological sense. Variations of the concept are common and widely used. Keeping people and things at a distance is a very common operation. The concepts of incarceration, quarantine, solitude contribute to and inform our understanding of the negative and positive aspects of keeping our distance. KYD strategies.
 * The power of the term, Keep your distance.**

The amazing development of Information and communication technology has resulted provided unique opportunities for people to manage the distance that they experience. One one had technology has resulted in a flat world again where people are able to establish connections and relationships independent of physical proximity.Notions of near and far have changed profoundly. People are able to engage in a wide variety of activities that their KYD strategy set may have previously proscribed. Talking to members of the opposite sex, people of different SES, different cultural background, musical interests are no longer problematic. KYD is still an important element that motivates behavior but it is being manifest in new ways. It is not as prohibitive. The notion of friendship has been radically redefined in social networking systems.
 * Technological Distancing**

Technology has allowed people to overcome personal KYD strategies that have become pathological and limiting. You can control the levels of interaction in a chat room discussion group. You can mediate your visual connection with people via something like Seesmic. It would be interesting to interview some of the people using these affordances.

One of the memes that has emerged with the internet is the "death of distance" meme. The Death of Distance 1995 Cairncross book was an early popular use of this term although there are earlier references are in Heidegger 1970's. The idea is that technology and particularly communications technology has fundamentally altered our notion of distance for many human activities. Until recently most business and economic activity was predicated on physical proximity to workforce, resources, transportation and markets. Modern economies have transformed to include an increasing amount of activity that entails the transfer of data and information as much as goods and services. Communications networks and ubquitous computing has lessened the necessity for people to be in physical proximity. Some of the effects of this transfomation include the possibility of ever increasing numbers of people being able to earn a living from any location in the world. People consequently choose their location based on preferences other than economic necessity. People can collaborate with others located at great physical distance as easily as they could with someone close at hand.

The example of the McDonald's restaurant drive-through order window illustrates a point about the changing notion of distance. In some McDonald's people placing their order at the order kiosk are talking to someone in another country altogether. Workers in low wage nations process food orders using advanced communications technology, they relay the order to the food preparation window and you drive to the pick up window without realizing that your order has been handled by someone on the other side of the world in a different time zone. This has all sorts of ramifications for international relations but it also has the effect of making the conept of physical distance meaningless.

Invariably this has altered the notion of distance and is having an impact on KYD strategies. It is much easier to KYD from the disadvantages and problems of crowded urban settings. Ironically, urbanization is becoming a huge international problem. As world population increases large urban centers grow larger. Telepresence is a growing practice resulting from communication technology advances. I can have regular and instant audio visual conversations with my mother who lives two hours drive away. The sense of connection is still there although not as physical. It is impossible to hug your grandchildren over a video connection no matter what the quality of the picture. Holographic technology is rapidly developing which may make this possible in the forseeable future.

Analysis of this meme in the context of KYD provides some insight into the phenomenon of KYD and also points to the fact that KYD can evolve and has transferability as a theory. The internet is having a profound effect on many aspects of human social behavior and has been incorporated into KYD strategy sets in many ways. From tele-commuting to the changing definition of "friend" in social networking sites. Engagement with institutions has taken many entirely new and different aspects. It is more possible to engage with institutions while maintaining distance, a distance controlled by the individual.

Properties KYD Personal Distancing

Stages As people age and have many interactions they develop a desire to control the number and type of interactions that they have with other people and institutions. Dimensions Fluctuations and variations