Deindividuation: Effects of group size, density, number of observers, and group member similarity on self-consciousness and disinhibited behavior.

Abstract

Predictions about the social causes of self-consciou sness in groups were derived from the theory of deindividuati on and tested in three experiments. In Experiment 1 it was found that increasing group size was related to a decrease in selfconsciousness. Group density did not influence self-consciousness. In Experiment 2 it was found that increases in the number of observers increased self-consciousness. In Experiments 1 and 2, self-reports of self-consciou sness were independent of one's group, whereas the degree of behavioral disinhibition was highly correlated within groups. In Experiment 3 it was found that gender similarity within a group was related to lower self-consciousness. These findings offer support for a perceptual/att entional model of self-consciou sness within groups. Contrary to deindividuation theory predictions, however, behavior intensity did not vary across conditions in Experiments 1 and 2, even though self-consciousness did differ. This finding suggests that deindividuation theory is incomplete in its present form, and several potential inadequacies are discussed. The concept of deindividuati on was derived from the Gestalt idea of perception of whole figures (Festinger, Pepitone, & Newcomb, 19S2). Festinger and his colleagues maintained that just as visual attention can be directed by the characteristics of visual figures, so one's attention to persons and oneself when one is in a group may be directed by the characteristics of the group. The theory of deindividuati on suggests that the characteristics of certain groups may serve to draw the group members' attention away from themselves and toward the group as a whole. In other words, persons in groups with certain characteristics may be less self-conscious or self-aware because their attention is directed to the groups in which they are immersed. Diener (1979, 1980) further developed the theory of deindividuati on by hypothesizing that when one's attention is drawn outward toward the group, one will rely less on one's own standards and be more influ