Skip to main content
Log in

Physical, social, and personal factors in the perception of crowding

  • Published:
Journal of Nonverbal Behavior Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of density, posters, sex of subject, and group composition on anagram solving and also the perception of oneself and the physical and social environment. There were four major findings: (1) The addition of posters to a room in a high density nonsocial situation led to enhanced perceptions of crowding for males but not for females. These results were interpreted in terms of sensory overload. (2) Females rated themselves more positively in high density while males rated themselves more positively in low density. (3) Subjects rated the physical environment more negatively in high density than in low density. (4) There was no density effect on anagram solving.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Argyle, H. Effect of crowding upon group members affective feelings for each other.Sociometry, 1973,36, 244–246.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baum, A., & Davis, G. E. Spatial and social aspects of crowding perception.Environment and Behavior, 1976,8 527–544.

    Google Scholar 

  • Choi, S. C., Mirjafari, A., & Weaver, H. B. The concept of crowding: A critical review and proposal of an alternative approach.Environment and Behavior, 1976,8, 345–362.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, J. L., Sladen, B., & Bennett, B. The effects of situational variables on judgments of crowding.Sociometry, 1975,38, 273–281.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dabbs, J. M., Jr. Physical closeness and negative feelings.Psychonomic Science, 1971,23, 141–143.

    Google Scholar 

  • Desor, J. A. Toward a psychological theory of crowding.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1972,21, 79–83.

    Google Scholar 

  • Edwards, D. J. Approaching the unfamiliar: A study of interaction distance.Journal of Behavioral Science, 1972,1, 249–250.

    Google Scholar 

  • Epstein, Y. M., & Karlan, R. A. Effects of acute experimental crowding.Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 1975,5, 34–43.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fiske, D., & Maddi, S. R.Functions of varied experience. Homewood, Ill.: Dorsey, 1961.

    Google Scholar 

  • Freedman, J. A. The crowd—Maybe not so madding after all.Psychology Today, 1971,9, 58–62.

    Google Scholar 

  • Freedman, J. A.Crowding and behavior. San Francisco: Freeman, 1975.

    Google Scholar 

  • Freedman, J. L., Levy, Buchanan, R., & Price, J. Crowding and human aggressiveness.Journal of Experiemental Social Psychology, 1972,8, 528–545.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hall, E.The hidden dimension. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, 1966.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hendrick, C., Geisen, N., & Coy, S. F. The social ecology of free seating arrangements in a small group context.Sociometry, 1974,37, 262–274.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kucera, H., & Francis, W. N.Computational analysis of present-day American English. Providence, R.I.: Brown University Press, 1967.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leventhal, G., Matturro, M., & Schanerman, J. Effects of attitude, sex, and approach on nonverbal, verbal, and projective measures of personal space.Perceptual and Motor Skills, 1978,47, 107–118.

    Google Scholar 

  • Little, K. P. Personal space.Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 1965,1, 237–247.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mackintosh, E., West, S., & Saegert, S. Two studies of crowding in urban public spaces.Environment and Behavior, 1975,7, 159–184.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marshall, J., & Heslin, R. Boys and girls together.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1975,31, 952–961.

    Google Scholar 

  • Milgram, S. The experience of living in cities.Science, 1970,167, 1461–1468.

    Google Scholar 

  • Money, J., & Tucker, P.Sexual signatures. Boston: Little, Brown, 1975.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ross, M., Layton, B., Erickson, B., & Schopler, J. Affect, facial regard and reactions to crowding.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1973,28, 68–76.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sommer, R., & Becker, F. D. Room density and user satisfaction.Environment and Behavior, 1971,3, 412–417.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stokols, D. A social-psychological model of human crowding phenomena.Journal of the American Institute of Planners, 1972,38, 72–83.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stokols, D., Rall, M., Pinner, B., & Schopler, J. Physical, social, and personal determinants of the perception of crowding.Environment and Behavior, 1973,5, 87–115.

    Google Scholar 

  • Valins, S., & Baum, A. Residential group size, social interaction, and crowding.Environment and Behavior, 1973,5, 421–439.

    Google Scholar 

  • Willis, R. Initial speaking distance as a function of the speaker's relationship.Psychological Review, 1966,5, 221–222.

    Google Scholar 

  • Worchel, S., & Teddlie, C. The experience of crowding: A two-factor theory.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1976,34, 30–40.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Leventhal, G., Levitt, L. Physical, social, and personal factors in the perception of crowding. J Nonverbal Behav 4, 40–55 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00986911

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00986911

Keywords

Navigation