The IAR is a certain variable area of space surrounding a person. Whenever another human enters the IAR, greetings or other acknowledgements may or may not ensue. The area's outer boundary is defined as the maximum distance at which it is deemed appropriate to recognize the approaching associate. The size of the IAR is dependent upon the type of relationship the person has with the approaching human, the person's mood, the environment in which the encounter takes place, and a host of other considerations. In some cases the IAR is such a small area that the person fails to recognize its existence at all, and on such occasions a snub occurs.