The Experience
People often assume that crowded places are difficult for someone living with anxieties or agoraphobia. In my experience, that's not always true.
When I visited New York, I found the crowds surprisingly comfortable. People were coming and going seemingly focused only on where they were going. Nobody seemed focused on me. That's what felt comfortable.
I've experienced something similar in large public spaces like malls. When people are moving through an environment, I often feel less exposed than I do in a small waiting room where everyone is sitting still. Or standing in a hotel lobby waiting to check in with other guests standing around me.
The Observation
The number of people in a space is only part of the experience. Whether people are moving through an environment or sitting in one place can create very different experiences.
The Significance
This matters because organizations may assume comfort is mostly about reducing the number of people in a space. But for some people, the more important question may be whether the environment creates movement, privacy, and room to orient themselves without feeling trapped or observed.
Browse All Observations →