A test between deindividuation and emergent norm theories of crowd aggression.

Abstract

Deindividuation theory predicts that under the cover of anonymity, crowd members will be more aggressive than when identifiable. Emergent norm theory predicts that the most aggressive behavior will occur when an aggressive norm prevails in a crowd in which participants are identifiable to each other. These contrasting propositions were tested in a laboratory experiment involving a 2X2 factorial design. In groups of 6-8, subjects who were either anonymous or identifiable to each other acted as an audience to a pair of discussants. Subjects were given the opportunity to administer loud noise to the discussants. The response displayed to each group as an alleged average was manipulated so that subjects were led to believe that either an aggressive or a lenient norm had developed. As predicted by deindividuation theory, anonymous subjects administered significantly higher levels of noise than identifiable subjects. Anonymous subjects used equally loud noise regardless of group norm. Self-ratings provided evidence that the effects of anonymity were mediated by a psychological state of deindividuation, in addition to freedom from accountability for individual acts. There was no support for the crucial emergent norm theory prediction that aggression will be greatest when subjects who are identifiable to each other are exposed to an aggressive norm.

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