WorksheetsDeindividuation
Total questions: 4
Worksheet time: 2mins
Deindividuation is
A form of conformity
When an individual becomes aggressive as being in a group means that they observe and imitate others actions
Following an order or instruction because you are in a group setting
Where an individual loses their personal identity normally when in a crowd or a group.
Dunn and Rogers claim that it is not just anonymity that causes deindividuation but the consequences of anonymity. This can be explained by two different types of self-awareness,Can you spot them? (choose two)
Private self-awareness is concerned with how we pay attention to our own feelings and behaviour which is reduced when we are part of a crowd as we become less self-critical of our own actions.
Public self-awareness is concerned with how much we care about our own feelings and emotions. In a crowd we become less accountable to more aggressive.
Private self-awareness is concerned with how we pay attention to other peoples feelings and behaviour which is reduced when we are part of a crowd as we become less self-critical of our own actions.
Public self-awareness is concerned with how much we care about what other people think. In a crowd we become less accountable to more aggressive.
Research by Dodd (1985) Investigated Deindividuation in classroom setting by 229 undergraduate students (select two and read carefully you have two mins)
“If you could do anything humanly possible with complete assurance that you would be detected and held responsible, what would you do?”
“If you could do anything humanly possible with complete assurance that you would not be detected or held responsible, what would you do?”
found that 36% of responses involved some form of antisocial behaviour and 26% were criminal acts.
found that 36% of responses involved some form of pro-social behaviour for example helpful behaviour towards others.
Select two correct discussion points
There is support for deindividuation online for something called flaming. This means a positive relationship between being anonymous (online) and the posting of threatening and/or hostile messages, the most aggressive being sent by those who chose to hide their identity.
Research into this area have mundane realism as it is often conducted in a real life setting making generalising the findings of studies to other people in other places much easier to do.
De-individuation does not always lead to aggression. In a study by Gergen et al (1973) participants were placed in a dark room for an hour and told to do whatever they wanted, with no rules and that they would never encounter each other again. The soon began touching and kissing each other intermittently!
It is definately clear that deindividuation always leads to a aggression in participants therefore supporting the link between the two.
