Going up in the world? Why where you stand in the lift reflects your social status

More senior men direct themselves towards the back of the elevator cabins

Younger men tended to take a spot in the middle of the lift

And women of all ages and status stood at the front, closest to the door



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.



According to new research, there could be a social hierarchy attached to where people stand in the lift. More senior men stand at the back, young men in the middle and women of all ages at the front

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.



Experts conducted an ethnographic study of elevator behavior in two of the tallest office buildings in Adelaide, Australia

She said: 'In front of them were younger men, and in front of them were women of all ages.'

She also 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.



She added: 'Further, interviewees seemed somewhat aware of these dynamics.



'Both men and women mentioned how they would either purposely stare at other elevator users to draw attention, or that one woman in particular would enter the elevator and stand facing the back, rather than the doors, which other users found disconcerting.



'Thus, people related a sense of playfulness at recognising and purposelessly disrupting usage norms and hierarchies.

'Another elevator user who was quite anxious about elevator travel mentioned that upon entering the cabin she always stood perfectly still, believing that any sudden move may cause the elevator to drop.'

