What Happened on a Trip to New York? 

I’m currently away, experiencing a slightly different world known as the Big Apple. About three days ago, during my 7-hour layover in Paris, I decided to be bold and write from the airport. Unfortunately, I didn’t get around to posting this entry then, so I’m doing it now.

Sitting outside Paris, waiting for my transfer, can be a bit frustrating. There’s plenty of time to make the airport experience interesting, but not enough to explore the city. Charles de Gaulle Airport is quite far from the city center, just like airports everywhere.

As usual, I fell into my usual habits. During the first hour, I wandered aimlessly, trying to intuitively grasp the differences between locals and native customs.

Surprisingly, no one bumped into me, which I see as a plus. As expected, no one seemed excited about my attempts to speak English.

I’ve never seen airport staff speak English before, but at least I got a quick lesson in hand gestures. I’m still unsure whether I can pull out a can of beer from my backpack. This is because no one has told me clearly if it’s allowed.

Also, the presence of numerous soldiers is quite startling. They carry large rifles, but it’s unclear how they’d act if needed.

They don’t speak English, and I’d rather not find out.

Why Does the Age of Travelers Stand Out?

It seems to me that the average age of travelers here might be higher than in Warsaw. However, this is just a guess. In Poland, retirees can’t easily afford flights, unlike the older generation in France.

Maybe that’s why. Interestingly, I’ve grown used to the company of older people in recent years, which feels a bit odd.

Since my grandmother’s passing three years ago, my desire to connect with the elderly has faded. They’ve become reminders of mortality, sadly true.

In crowded places like this, my mind starts running through a list of herd behaviors I’m familiar with. I read somewhere that people avoid eye contact in elevators because their personal space is limited. To compensate for the lack of intimacy, they look away.

According to Argyle and Dean (1965), eye contact and physical distance trade off against each other to maintain a comfortable equilibrium of intimacy. Therefore, closer physical proximity tends to produce less mutual gaze.

Strangely, I didn’t feel this way while waiting in the check-in line today. I wasn’t embarrassed to look at others or have them look at me, even though the crowd was tight.

I started wondering if the confined space of elevators, rather than just the closeness of people, influences this behavior. This led me to articles about human behavior in specific places, like elevators. I found one that stuck with me.

According to Evans and Wener (2007), sitting or standing in close, unavoidable proximity to strangers, as in an elevator or a crowded train, reliably raises measurable stress markers. Furthermore, this effect holds regardless of overall crowd density.

Why Do Elevators Feel So Uncomfortable?

The text discusses how people act in elevators as if their safety is at risk. This behavior persists even though attacks and threats are rare. This behavior is rooted in evolutionary instincts rather than rational actions.

It harks back to prehistoric times when uncomfortable situations, like competing for food, often led to surprise attacks. According to Middlemist, Knowles, and Matter (1976), an uninvited invasion of personal space is enough on its own to produce measurable physiological arousal. Moreover, this occurs even without any explicit threat.

Monkeys show similar behaviors. When in the same cage, they avoid confrontation.

They achieve this by keeping their distance and avoiding eye contact since staring is seen as a threat.

According to Harrod, Coe, and Niedenthal (2020), a direct stare functions as a threat signal across most primate species. However, tolerance for eye contact increases only in more egalitarian social structures.

They eventually become organized, but tension rises. To avoid attacks, they make friends through gestures like baring teeth and grooming. Humans are similar—smiling and chatting helps.

I’ve seen this in practice. Often, someone will start a conversation with me in tight spaces like elevators.

People on crowded trains act similarly. The phenomenon can quickly create a lively atmosphere, as strangers start talking, realizing they’ll be together for a while.

It’s fascinating. Now, I’m curious to see how people react to unexpected events in elevators, like a hyperactive companion. I’ll definitely keep an eye out for that :)