Aggression: Deindividuation Flashcards
Describe Devindividuation
Deindividuation is a state that is categorised by the loss of a sense of individual identity. It involves a loss of public self-awareness (concern about how others view you) and private self-awareness (regard for your own thoughts and feelings). This loss of self-awareness can lead to increased aggression as it minimises concerns about evaluation by others and about your own moral standards, thus weakening the normal barriers to aggression.
Describe Anonymity within Deindividuation
Deindividuation can be caused by being anonymous (and therefore effectively unaccountable), for example in a crowd or a mask(e.g. Zimbardo (1969) study). Anonymity can diminish awareness of your own individuality, instead being merely part of a large group. Deindividuation can also be caused by an altered consciousness due to drugs or alcohol.
Who supports Deindivuation?
Zimbardo et al.
Describe Zimbardo’s study which supports the role of anonymity within deindividuation
The role of deindividuation is supported by Zimbardo et al., who simulated a prison with participants being randomly assigned guard or prisoner role. The guards - who were deindividuated by their uniforms and dark sunglasses - became extremely aggressive towards the prisoners. This shows that anonymity can lead to aggression, thus supporting deindividuation theory.
Describe research into “faceless crowds”
Research evidence supports the idea that large crowds can lead to increased aggression. Mullen conducted a content analysis of newspaper reports of lynchings in the US and found that larger crowds usually resulted in more savage killings, supporting deindividuation theory. However, lacks historic validity as it may only apply to a very specific time in US history.
Describe research which goes against, that of Mullen’s findings
Despite the findings that large crowds can increase aggression, many large group (such as religious gatherings) are very peaceful. One meta-analysis of sixty studies found insufficient support for aggression in large groups (Postmes and Spears). This suggests that groups do not create aggressive conditions, refuting the ideas of deindividuation theory.
Discuss Reduced Private self-awareness
Prentice Dunn et al. suggested an alternative to Zimbardo’s explanation of Anonymity. They claim that it is reduced self-awareness, rather than simply anonymity, that leads to deindivuation. If an individual is self-focused, the tend to focus on, and act according to, their internalised attitudes and moral standards, thus reducing the likelihood of antisocial behaviour , If the individual submerges themselves within a group, they may lose focus, less privately self-aware, and therefore less able to regulate their own.
AID: Gender Bias
An increase in aggression was obtained only in the all male groups in a study that compared males and females responses under deindividuation conditions. This was found in Diener et al. study who found greater disinhibition of aggression in males. Thus, evidence indicates that males may be more pron to disinhibition of aggressive behaviour when deindividuated than females.
AID: Real World Application
Mann used the concept of deindividuation to explain “crowd baiting”. He analysed 21 suicide leaps reported in US papers. He found that 10 in 21 cases, baiting occurred (urged the person who wanted to commit suicide to jump). All these features were likely to produce a state of deindividuation in the members of the crowd.
