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

• Published in: Journal of personality and social psychology 1980-09, Vol.39 (3), p.449-459
• Main Authors: Diener, Ed, Lusk, Rob, DeFour, Darlene, Flax, Robert
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Group Size; Human; Inhibition (Personality); Interpersonal Influences; Observers; Self-Perception; Social Density
• ISSN: 0022-3514; 1939-1315
• DOI: 10.1037/0022-3514.39.3.449

Predictions about the social causes of self-consciousness in groups were derived from the theory of deindividuation and tested in 3 experiments with 618 university students and adults. In Exp I, it was found that increasing group size was related to a decrease in self-consciousness. Group density did not influence self-consciousness. In Exp II, it was found that increases in the number of observers increased self-consciousness. In Exps I and II, self-reports of self-consciousness were independent of one's group, whereas the degree of behavioral disinhibition was highly correlated within groups. In Exp III, it was found that gender similarity within a group was related to lower self-consciousness. Findings support a perceptual/attentional model of self-consciousness within groups. Contrary to deindividuation theory predictions, however, behavior intensity did not vary across conditions in Exps I and II, even though self-consciousness did differ. This finding suggests that deindividuation theory is incomplete in its present form. (19 ref)