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Deindividuation

Deindividuation. Deindividuation Theory. Gustave Le Bon (1895) described how an individual was transformed when part of a crowd. He claimed when in a crowd, the combination of anonymity, suggestibility and contagion mean that a ‘collective mind’ takes possession of the individual.

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Deindividuation

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  1. Deindividuation

  2. Deindividuation Theory • Gustave Le Bon (1895) described how an individual was transformed when part of a crowd. • He claimed when in a crowd, the combination of anonymity, suggestibility and contagion mean that a ‘collective mind’ takes possession of the individual. • As a consequence the individual loses self control and acts in a way that goes against personal social norms.

  3. Nature Of Deindividuation • The psychological state of deindividuationis aroused when individuals join crowds or large groups • The focus of deindividuation theory has almost been exclusively on antisocial behaviour.

  4. Process Of Deindividuation • An individual avoids acting in an aggressive manner partly because there are social norms inhibiting the ‘uncivilised behaviour. • According to zimbardo being part of a crowd can diminish awareness of our own individuality. • In a large group there is greater anonymity and increasing behaviours that are usually inhibited

  5. Research- Anonymity • Rehm et al. (1987) assigned German schoolchildren into teams of 5 people. • Half the teams wore orange shirts, the rest wore normal clothes • The ‘orange’ children who were harder to identify played more aggressively.

  6. Evaluation • Johnson & Downing (1979) study used same experiment as Zimbardo but made anonymous by means of a mask and overalls • + proves theory of Anonymity • - lacks ethical issues such as: psychological harm, deceived, lack of informed consent. • - demand characteristics as they were dressed up as the KKK

  7. Research – The faceless Crowd • Mullen (1986) analysed newspaper cuttings of 16 lynchings in the US • He found the more people in the mob the greater the savagery with which their victim was killed.

  8. Reduced private self awareness • Prentice-Dunn (1982) claimed that the important determinant of deindividuation is reduce self awareness • If an individual is self-aware they focus on their internal attitudes and moral standards thus reducing anti social behaviour

  9. Lack of support • A meta-analysis of 60 studies (postmes and spears 1998) found insufficient support for the major claims of deindividuation theory. • Disinhibition and anti social behaviour are not more common in large groups and anonymous settings • Neither was there evidence that deindividuation is associated with reduced self awareness, or that reduced self awareness increases aggressive behaviour

  10. Prosocial consequences • Spivey and Prentice-Dunn (1990) found that deindividuation could lead to either prosocial or antisocial behaviour depending on situation. • When prosocial environmental cues where presented participants preformed significantly more altruistic acts and fewer antisocial acts.

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