De-individuation Flashcards
Why do individuals normally avoid acting in an aggressive manner?
Being easily identifiable means our knowledge of social norms prevents uncivilised behaviour.
What is de-individuation?
The loss of self-awareness, identity and individual accountability when part of a relatively anonymous group, consequently leading to aggressive behaviour.
What factors increase the feeling of anonymity?
Uniform, altered consciousness (drugs).
How does a diminished awareness of own individuality and a feeling of unaccountableness lead to aggressive behaviour?
They both lead to less fear of evaluation, so guilt/shame barriers are overcome.
Who studied de-individuation and its effect on aggression?
Zimbardo 1969.
What was Zimbardo’s procedure to study de-individuation?
Groups of 4 female undergrads required to give electric shocks to another student to aid learning. 1/2 Ps wore lab coats that hid face, sat in another room and were never referred to by name. Other Ps wore normal clothes, had a name tag and could see each other when giving shocks.
What did Zimbardo find?
Ps in de-individuation condition more likely to press electric shock button. Held shock button for twice as long as identifiable Ps.
(AO3) Explain gender differences in de-individuation.
Research by Cannavale found different responses in de-individuation conditions. Increase in aggression only found in all-male groups, not all-female. May be because males respond to provocation in more extreme ways, which is magnified under de-individuation conditions. Shows dispositional factors are important.
(AO3) What is de-individuation in a pro-social setting?
Benefits of de-individuation: festivals, online questionnaires, strike/protest action.
Research has been too focused on antisocial behaviour.
(AO3) What can de-individuation research be used to explain?
Mob behaviour. Research (60 sample size using newspapers) found when the mob of people carrying out a lynching in the US was larger, the savagery levels were greater. Being in a crowd/mob with a chaotic atmosphere causes individuals to be less easy to identify - de-individuation. Shows RWA and importance of study.
(AO3) Describe culture differences in de-individuation.
Appears to be consistent across all cultures. Watson found that 23 different tribes were all more likely to display especially destructive behaviour if their makeup significantly changed their appearance. Suggests no matter which cultural setting, de-individuation increases likelihood and extent of aggressive behaviour.
