George is at a pub watching the Stanley Cup final game. When the game ends, some fights start in the bar, and all along the street. People smash windows of cars and business, and some people begin to loot stores. George gets "caught up" in this and joins in the rioting behaviour, as just another member of the crowd. What concept is depicted in this example?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

George's behaviour can be explained by deindividuation, where an individual may behave in a way that is not typical of their personality when they feel anonymous and part of a group. In this case, George likely felt like he was part of a larger crowd with shared goals, which reduced his inhibitions and made him more likely to engage in destructive and violent behaviour.

George Is at a Pub Watching the Stanley Cup Final