Evaluation of deindividuation theory

Evaluation of deindividuation theory

1. A03 - Lack of research support - many studies failed to support deindividuation theory, Zimbardo's replication - gained exac opposite results . Postmes + Spears (1998) meta analysis of 60 studies - found insufficient support for for idea that anti social B + agg B is more common in large groups or in anonymous settings.

2. A03 - Deindividuation + pro- social behaviour- early ev - linked deindividuation a + agg together. But no ev - deindividuation also produces increases in pro-social rather antisocial B. Contradictory findings - incrase - prosocial B - when in deindividauted state - good will expessed by people at religious rallies - they are less individauted more people around - this points goes against ev of agg B when in an deividuated state.

3. A03 - The importance of local group norms - Johnson + Downing (1979) - repeated Zimbardo but with deindividuated P's in diff ways. Group 1: wore masks + overalls - resembled KKK + group 2: wore nurses uniforms . FINDINGS: p's in con 1 shocked more BUT less than a control group when dressed in nurses uniform. Demonstrates deindividuation doesn't always lead to agg. But respond to normative cues associated with sit that p's are in.

4. A03 - The Zimbardo et al. (Zimbardo's exp - (1973) - Stanford Prison Exp - highlights power of deindividuation. BUT Reicher + Haslam (2006) suggests Zimbardo's p's acting in perceived social roles vs losing social identity, Therefore Zimbardo's exp doesn't tell us how real guards behave just how p's behave when acting like guards

   • A03 - Above criticism challenged by Zimbardo - highlights sims between his guards in SPE + giards in Abu Ghraib in Iraq- their agg B explained by their deindividuating factors by working in prison - relative anonymity + collective identity of prisoners.

5. IDA

   • A03 - Gender Differences - males + females respond diff when deindividiuated. - Cannavale et al. (1970) found male + females - respond diff when under cons of anonymity. - increase agg B in males BUT NOT females. = suggests males more prone to losing inhibitions - agg B vs females.
   • A03 - Application to football crowd violence - describing football violence as product of mass deindividuation = oversimplification. Marsh et al. (1978) - could appear as undisciplined mob but are actually consist of several diff groups of supporters - each having their own status. - researchers discovered apprenticeship - organised agg over time - young supporters - promoted into higher group = career in football violoence. B is often highliy ritualized vs physically violent. Hekps peopel such as police force to understand structure of football violence and therefore create better ways to deal with football violence.
   • A03 - Application to violence in Northern Ireland - Silke (2003) - examined relation between ananyomity + agg in violent assaults- occurred in Northern Ireland - over 30 month period. Info - contained - media reports - newspapers + victim support group. 500 analysed - 206 were carried out by anonymous individuals - wore disguises mask identity - balaclavas + paramilitary uniform. = signif positive relationship between disguises + diff measures of agg. Disguised offenders - likely inflict more serious physical harm, attack more p's at scene , engage more acts of violence +likely threaten victims after attack.