De-individuation Theory – Gustave Le Bon
Depth:
De-individuation is a psychological state in which individuals have lowered levels of self-evaluation
(e.g., when in a crowd or under the influence of alcohol) and decreased concerns about evaluation
by others.
Le Bon described how an individual was transformed when part of a crowd – in a crowd, the
combination of anonymity, suggestibility and contagion mean that a ‘collective mind’ takes
possession of the individual.
As a consequence, the individual loses self-control and becomes capable of acting in a way that
goes against personal or social norms.
Zimbardo developed the concept of de-individuation further – the psychological state of de-
individuation is aroused when individuals join large crowds or groups.
Zimbardo believed that being in a crowd gave people a ‘cloak of anonymity’ that diminished ay
personal consequences for their actions. – factors that contribute to this state of de-individuation
include anonymity (e.g., wearing uniform) and altered consciousness due to drugs or alcohol.
People normally refrain from acting in an aggressive manner partly because there are social norms
inhibiting this and partly because they are easily identifiable.
Being anonymous in a crowd has the psychological consequence of reducing inner restraints and
increasing behaviours that are usually inhibited.
In a crowd, responsibility becomes shared so that we experience less personal guilt for aggressive
behaviour.
RESEARCH: has demonstrated that individuals who believe their identities are unknown are more
likely to behave in an aggressive manner.
Bredth:
KEY STUDY – Zimbardo
PROCEDURE: Groups of four female undergraduates were required to give electric shocks to another
student to aid learning. Half pps wore bulky lab coats and good that hid their faces, sat in cubicles and
were not referred to by name. The other half wore their normal clothes, were given large name tags and
were introduced to each other.
FINDINGS: Pps in the de-individuation condition (hooded and no name tags) were more likely to press a
button that they believed would give shocks to a ‘victim’ in another room. They held the shock button
down for twice as long as did identifiable patients.
EVALUATION
WEAKNESS
P – There are gender differences as it was found that male and female groups responded differently under
de-individuation conditions.
E – An increase in aggression was obtained only in all-male groups and not in all-female groups.
E – It was also found that there was greater disinhibition of aggression (i.e., the removal of the normal
inhibitions that prevent aggression) in de-individuated males than in de-individuated females.
Depth:
De-individuation is a psychological state in which individuals have lowered levels of self-evaluation
(e.g., when in a crowd or under the influence of alcohol) and decreased concerns about evaluation
by others.
Le Bon described how an individual was transformed when part of a crowd – in a crowd, the
combination of anonymity, suggestibility and contagion mean that a ‘collective mind’ takes
possession of the individual.
As a consequence, the individual loses self-control and becomes capable of acting in a way that
goes against personal or social norms.
Zimbardo developed the concept of de-individuation further – the psychological state of de-
individuation is aroused when individuals join large crowds or groups.
Zimbardo believed that being in a crowd gave people a ‘cloak of anonymity’ that diminished ay
personal consequences for their actions. – factors that contribute to this state of de-individuation
include anonymity (e.g., wearing uniform) and altered consciousness due to drugs or alcohol.
People normally refrain from acting in an aggressive manner partly because there are social norms
inhibiting this and partly because they are easily identifiable.
Being anonymous in a crowd has the psychological consequence of reducing inner restraints and
increasing behaviours that are usually inhibited.
In a crowd, responsibility becomes shared so that we experience less personal guilt for aggressive
behaviour.
RESEARCH: has demonstrated that individuals who believe their identities are unknown are more
likely to behave in an aggressive manner.
Bredth:
KEY STUDY – Zimbardo
PROCEDURE: Groups of four female undergraduates were required to give electric shocks to another
student to aid learning. Half pps wore bulky lab coats and good that hid their faces, sat in cubicles and
were not referred to by name. The other half wore their normal clothes, were given large name tags and
were introduced to each other.
FINDINGS: Pps in the de-individuation condition (hooded and no name tags) were more likely to press a
button that they believed would give shocks to a ‘victim’ in another room. They held the shock button
down for twice as long as did identifiable patients.
EVALUATION
WEAKNESS
P – There are gender differences as it was found that male and female groups responded differently under
de-individuation conditions.
E – An increase in aggression was obtained only in all-male groups and not in all-female groups.
E – It was also found that there was greater disinhibition of aggression (i.e., the removal of the normal
inhibitions that prevent aggression) in de-individuated males than in de-individuated females.
