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Normative mediation of reactions to crowding

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Abstract

Previous research on short-term crowding had found that males and females react differently. In general, males respond to spatial restriction more negatively while females react more positively than their noncrowded counter-parts. Epstein and Karlin (1975) suggested that these differences are based on group processes rather than biological differences. The present study manipulated norms governing interaction levels in crowded groups of women. Results indicated that these norms influenced reactions to crowding as predicted. Women reacted most positively when interaction levels were high and most negatively when interaction levels were low.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. the Department of Psychology, Rutgers University, 08903, New Brunswick, N.J.

    Robert A. Karlin, Dianne McFarland, John R. Aiello & Yakov M. Epstein

Authors
  1. Robert A. Karlin
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  2. Dianne McFarland
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  3. John R. Aiello
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  4. Yakov M. Epstein
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Additional information

The present research was supported by grant # HD-08546-01 to Drs. Epstein and Aiello and by grant #07-2119-08 from the Rutgers Research Council to Dr. Karlin.

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Karlin, R.A., McFarland, D., Aiello, J.R. et al. Normative mediation of reactions to crowding. J Nonverbal Behav 1, 30–40 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01115463

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01115463

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