Zimbardo,, deindividuation

"In the process of having to generate intrinsic justifications in order to make a discrepant commitment appear rational and consistent, man shifts the locus of contorl of his behavior from external stimul to internal cognitive controls."

Consistency, Rationality and responsibility are prized in society. "The act of freely making a commitment for which one assumes responsibility individuates the decision maker".

But the world seems to be acting otherwise. People are excercising control to destroy themselves and others.

Festinger showed in the 1950's that there is a "reduction in inner restraints" toward expression of counter-norm behavior when individuals are 'submerged in a group".

Ziller proposed that "individuation is desireable withing a supportable social climate, but deindividuation is sought as a defense against a threatening environment." Deinviduation results in a lowering of the threshold for expressing inhibited behaviors.

Another study allowed a release of agression by the subjects against some confederates pretending to be resisters. The "catharsis" had no effect on reducing agression and actually increased it a bit.

The researchers then repeated the New York coed experiment, but only hooded one person in the group who then "stood out". These alone non-identified subjects then became less agressive than the previous group of all hooded, anonymous subjects.

certain pleasurable behavior because of social norms, a lowering ot that inhibition could trigger the start of the behavior which would continue until some other outside force acted on it.

Deindivituated behavior is emotional, impulsive, irrational, regressive, and atypical for the person. The normal feedback loops that would inhibit such behavior normally are not working. Deindividuation is unresponsive to many features of the situation including the victim or states of self that would resist such action.

Anonymity (lack of criticism by others) should reduce inhibitions of behavior. The inhibiting effects of responsibility can be reduced if the behavior is done by a group or if another accepts responsibility.

Some topics in this essay:
Consistency Rationality, Palo Alto, , reduce inhibitions, shocked victim, vandalism car,