Diener et al. (1976) studied the behaviour of children on Halloween. In a series of focal homes, children were warmly invited into the houses and told that they could take one piece of candy from a bowl on a table. It was found that children who remained anonymous were more likely to take extra pieces of candy compared to children who disclosed their name and address to the homeowners. This finding can be attributed to:

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The behavior observed in Diener et al.'s study is attributed to deindividuation, a psychological state characterized by reduced self-awareness and diminished social identity, leading individuals to act in ways they normally wouldn't if they were identifiable. In this case, anonymity led to a higher likelihood of taking more candy, as the children's sense of individual identity was lessened.

Diener Et Al