tions of the invasion of territory or personal space, two concepts which have important implications for the care of hospitalized patients. Territoriality is "the behavior by which an organism characteristically lays claim to an area and defends it against members of his own species"(1). In animals, this behavior protects against predators, regulates density of the species, and provides a framework for activities. It is viewed by most researchers as being a genetically determined behavior(2). Ardrey suggests that people are also territorial animals and this behavior is naturally rather than culturally acquired(3). Sommer, however, does not accept the idea that territorial behavior is instinctual, but agrees t at "people actively defend certain spaces against intruders using the entire repertoire of defensive techniques in the animal kingdom as well as a few new ones"(4). Lyman and Scott suggest that territorial behavior, depending on the species, can be either instinctive or learned. They describe four types of territories: Public territoies are areas in which each person has freedom of access, but not necessarily freedom of action. While open to all, their usage may be estricted to certain people at specified times. Examples are schools or MARGOT J. STILLMAN, R.N., M.S.N., is an instructor of nursing at Greater Hartford Community College, Connecticut.