Elevator etiquette

I have a fascination with various quirky social norms. One of these social norms being the standard etiquette present when riding an elevator. Before I move further, I want to disclaim that my elevator etiquette perspective is limited to standard observation of behavioral social norms in the United States.

First, one can observe the body position.
1. Elevator patron #1 enters the elevator, moving to the back left corner position.
2. Elevator patron #2 enters the elevator, moving to the back right corner position.
3. Elevator patron #3 enters the elevator, moving to the front left corner position.
4. Elevator patron #4 enters the elevator, moving to the front right corner position.
5. Elevator patron #5 enters the elevator, moving to the back center position.
6. Elevator patron #6 enters the elevator, moving to the front center position.

The following pattern is observed:
1 5 2
3 6 4

The positioning is not a guarantee, but it is very common. For example, the order and precise positioning of each patron may vary slightly depending on their right or left-centric brain patterns. It can also vary if the patron feels more comfortable in the rear of the elevator to unconsciously shed less attention upon themselves or if the patron feels more comfortable in the front of the elevator, perhaps feeling the need for a more speedy exit. Additionally, I have observed short-lived awkward chaos when the first person who enters the elevator stays in the front-left position to manage the floor-selection buttons.

Why do people do this? I think it's done as a courtesy. An elevator is a compact space designed for quick and, most often, vertical transportation. Due to the cramped space, people unconsciously try to keep as much space from other patrons, maintaining their sense of comfort and personal space.

A given elevator can also host more or less patrons depending upon the size of the elevator. Even when the elevator is crowded, patrons still attempt to position in an ordered manner to maintain as much personal space as possible.

Once positioning is complete, the elevator starts to move. Conversation tends to die down. Again, this isn't a certainty, but it is generally done as a courtesy. A conversation on an elevator is rarely designed for broadcast and, as such, elevator conversation can make any patron who is an outsider to the conversation uncomfortable.

Also due to the close proximity, rarely is direct eye contact managed. Patrons look at the floor number, waiting to exit. Patrons look at the floor, the walls, posters on the elevator walls. They look at anything but each other, again looking to preserve comfort level.

Finally, exiting the elevator is a ritual in itself. Patrons who know they want to exit sooner than other patrons tend to position closer to the door. If not, that patron needs to move through other passengers in order to exit. The repositioning is done almost mechanically, allowing the respective passenger to exit while maintaining and maximizing space between patrons who remain.

If a number of patrons exit the elevator at the same floor, often position will determine the order of exit. Additionally, traditional cultural norms may show where an adult male will defer to other women and children to exit before them as a courtesy.

The entire ritual is really fascinatingly bizarre.