Deindividuation Flashcards
What is deindividuation?
The process of decreased self assessment and awareness that occurs when identification of an individual is difficult or impossible
What do the Human Relations Area Files data show about deindividuation? (tribal cultures)
Assumption that war paint, costumes deindividuate = aggression, is paint simply expression of tribe membership?
What are the 5 features involved in deindividuation?
People don’t pay attention to others as individuals, feel anonymous, not bound by societal norms = primitive, reduced inhibitions, control of shame and guilt weakened
Which study investigated the influence of anonymity on anti social behaviour?
Diener 1976: field, 1300 kids at Halloween, kids in large groups wearing costumes/masks more likely to steal sweets/money but correlational study
Which study investigated anonymity as a possible cause of aggression?
Ellison 1995: confed driver didn’t go when lights green, recorded hooting behaviour, open/closed top cars, anon drivers were quicker to hoot and hooted more frequently
What is the evidence that deindividuation does not always cause aggressive behaviour?
Gergen 1973: group in dark room for hour made physical contact and most were sexually aroused, group in light room didn’t have any effects
What research supports the idea that deindividuation is more likely to be antisocial/aggressive then individuated behaviour?
Malamuth and Check 1981: male students questioned at US uni, 1/3 admitted there was a chance they might commit rape if there was no chance of them being identified
What are the issues with using one gender in a study? What are the issues with carrying out sensitive research by interview?
Androcentric, effects of social desirability and demand characteristics, during interviews: identifiable not deindividuated, would people answer seriously?
Who conducted a study into electric shocks given and deindividuation?
Zimbardo 1969: female students electric shocking as learning aid, half in lab coats and hoods others in normal clothes names introduced, deindividuated gave average 2 times more shock
Who analysed real world data on deindividuation?
Watson 1973: anthropological (Human Relations Area Files), warriors in 23 societies. in the 13 socs that killed/tortured victims 12 changed their appearance significantly. 10 socs less brutal 7 didn’t change appearance
What type of cultural bias may have been present in the Human Relations Area Files?
misapplication of norms of individualistic/Western society, relationship between war paint may not be causal but correlational, different cultures have different ideals
Which study shows lack of support for deindividuation?
Postmes and Spears 1998: meta of 60, insufficient support for major claims of theory, little evidence to relate deindividuation with less self awareness, crowd members take on collective identity instead: different rules
What makes deindividuation a useful theory?
Can explain other real like phenomena like ‘baiting crowd’ behaviour
Who found examples of deindividuation leading to baiting crown behaviour?
Mann 1981: 21 suicides in US newspapers 60/70s, 10/21 crowd gathered and baited, tended to occur at night with large crowd away from victim (deindividuated)
