De-Individuation

Question 1

Crowd Behaviour

Answer 1

• Because we are easily identified by others, our behaviour is constrained by social norms
• But when we become part of a crowd, we lose restraint and have freedom to behave in ways we wouldn’t otherwise – we lose our sense of self-identity and responsibility for our behaviour, we disregards norms and laws
• Responsibility becomes shared throughout the crowd, so we experienced less personal guilt about directing harmful aggression at others

Question 2

What did Zimbardo say about individuated and de-individuated behaviour?

Answer 2

• In an individuated state, our behaviour is rational and normative
• When in a de-individuated state, we lose self-awareness + stop monitoring and regulating our own behaviour + ignore social norms (behaviours are emotional, impulsive, disinhibited, and anti-normative)

Question 3

Zimbardo (1969)

Answer 3

• Female college students were divided into 2 groups, each tasked with administering electric shocks to another student – the first group wore lab coats and identity-concealing hoods, and the other group wore normal clothing and name tags
• Participants in the anonymous group administered significantly higher levels of shock compared to those in the identifiable group