The Effects of Lighting and Interpersonal Distance on Counseling Interactions

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of intensity of lighting andinterpersonal distance in an analog counseling situation on an array ofcounseling variables: e.g., communication of empathy, duration of silence,duration of speech, number of interactions. Excerpts from initial sessionswere randomly selected, rated, and analyzed. Results showed a significantinteractive effect of lighting and distance on the communication of empathy.Both significant and non-significant results were discussed.