DEINDIVIDUATION

• DEINDIVIDUATION 


  occurs when an individual is part of a group or crowd. It states that aggression is more likely to happen when an individual experiences a loss of their sense of identity. As they no longer feel autonomous as an individual, the morals and beliefs that normally guide their behaviour are loosened and they adopt the morals of any group that they may be part of at that particular time. 
• PRIVATE SELF AWARENESS 


  attention to our own feelings is reduced because it is focused outwards on events around us
• PUBLIC SELF AWARENESS 


  Reduced because we realise we are anonymous and our behaviour is less likely to be judged by others]
• (+) DEINDIVIDUATION 


  DODD =

  asked 229 undergraduate psychology students in 13 classes this question: “If you could do anything, knowing you would not be detected, what would you do?”  36% antisocial behaviour, 26% criminal acts (rob a bank was most common), as few opted for rape, murder and assassination of a political figure.  Only 9% of responses were prosocial. This suggests that anonymity and loss of identity is the key to an increase in aggression.
• (-) DEINDIVIDUATION 


  it can lead to prosocial behaviour. HIRSCH ET AL = found that when in darkness an individual will experience deindividuation. But this does not automatically lead to aggression; it may also lead to prosocial behaviour, meaning losing your identity temporarily does not necessarily mean it will be negative, it can also bring out a positive effect. This also occurred when individuals were displayed due to intoxication. However, it should be noted that this research was not based on crowd behaviour and so it cannot be said that prosocial behaviour occurred in crowds. 
• (-) DEINDIVIDUATION 


  It does not always lead to aggression - JOHNSON AND DOWNING =

  found that females dressed as nurses gave fewer electric shocks compared to those dressed in a Ku Klux Klan outfit. The nurses were also more compassionate towards their victim, inline with the prosocial role with a nurses uniform. This suggests that uniform can impact aggression, based on the perceived roles of those they were dressed to be.  
• (+) DEINDIVIDUATION 


  REAL LIFE APPLICATIONS =

   has brought out a positive to the economy is that the government has introduced many applications. As deindividuation can occur in darkness, so councils have introduced areas that are well lit. CCTV has also been introduced, so people are aware that they can be seen and identified.