Erik likes to spend time in a Facebook group devoted to a specific hobby. He looks for ways to irritate other members, posting inflammatory comments and "trolling" the group. He does so because he knows that nobody will ever really identify him, since he uses a fake name online. The fact that he can reduce a sense of personal responsibility by hiding his identity is what social psychologists call __________.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Deindividuation refers to the process by which people lose their sense of individual identity and may engage in behaviors they normally wouldn't due to reduced accountability and self-awareness. Anonymity, while related to deindividuation, specifically refers to the hiding of one's identity or personal information. However, in this scenario, it is the reduced sense of individual identity and accountability that is the driving factor behind Erik's behavior, making deindividuation the best choice.

Erik Likes to Spend Time in a Facebook Group Devoted