Deindividuation Essay Plan
Deindividuation Essay Plan
Theory- Intro
Deindividuation is a social psychological explanation of aggression. It refers to the loss of personal identity and responsibility that occurs as a result of being in a crowd of people, or wearing a mask.
Deiner detailed deindividuation as 4 effects of decreased self-awareness. He stated it occurs when: self-awareness is blocked by environmental factors, there is a reduced need for social approval, there is a reduction in rational thinking and a decrease in inhibitions.
It can be said that as a result of normative social influence, deindividuation causes people to unquestioningly follow group norms instead of personal norms, which sometimes leads individuals to display aggressive behaviour.
Studies:
Supporting Deindividuation
Research suggesting deindividuation does NOT lead to aggression
Zimbardo (1963) – replicated Milgram’s electric shock study, but the participant was either individuated with a name tag or deindividuated by wearing a hood. The deindividuated participants gave more shocks, supporting the idea of deindividuation.
Criticisms: gender bias, breaches protection of participants.
Conclusion: deindividualisation does lead to aggression.
Gergen et al (1973)- 6 men and 6 women ,placed into either a dimly lit room or a completely dark room. After 15 minutes there were 80% that became intimate in the dark conditions.
Findings: they were more likely to show pro-social behaviour , public self awareness.
Criticisms: small sample, individual differences, lacks population validity.
Mann (1981) – analysed 21 suicides in US newspapers 10 out of 21 cases their was a baiting crowd urging them to jump.
Findings: darkness and size of the crowd affects deindividualisation, public self awareness. This suggests that public and private self awareness both lead to aggressive behaviour.
Criticisms: secondary data – creates moral panic / dramatises event and is not fully accurate.
Francis et al (2006)
Adults reported
Theory- Intro
Deindividuation is a social psychological explanation of aggression. It refers to the loss of personal identity and responsibility that occurs as a result of being in a crowd of people, or wearing a mask.
Deiner detailed deindividuation as 4 effects of decreased self-awareness. He stated it occurs when: self-awareness is blocked by environmental factors, there is a reduced need for social approval, there is a reduction in rational thinking and a decrease in inhibitions.
It can be said that as a result of normative social influence, deindividuation causes people to unquestioningly follow group norms instead of personal norms, which sometimes leads individuals to display aggressive behaviour.
Studies:
Supporting Deindividuation
Research suggesting deindividuation does NOT lead to aggression
Zimbardo (1963) – replicated Milgram’s electric shock study, but the participant was either individuated with a name tag or deindividuated by wearing a hood. The deindividuated participants gave more shocks, supporting the idea of deindividuation.
Criticisms: gender bias, breaches protection of participants.
Conclusion: deindividualisation does lead to aggression.
Gergen et al (1973)- 6 men and 6 women ,placed into either a dimly lit room or a completely dark room. After 15 minutes there were 80% that became intimate in the dark conditions.
Findings: they were more likely to show pro-social behaviour , public self awareness.
Criticisms: small sample, individual differences, lacks population validity.
Mann (1981) – analysed 21 suicides in US newspapers 10 out of 21 cases their was a baiting crowd urging them to jump.
Findings: darkness and size of the crowd affects deindividualisation, public self awareness. This suggests that public and private self awareness both lead to aggressive behaviour.
Criticisms: secondary data – creates moral panic / dramatises event and is not fully accurate.
Francis et al (2006)
Adults reported