Anonymity in Driving Behavior

Shawn Bray, Zehna Gilliam and Skye SimonelliSan Diego Mesa College

San Diego, CA.

To test the effects of anonymity on driving behaviors and to better understand which factors may contribute to other unlawful

behaviors.

Objective

Drivers in automobiles with tinted windows are less likely to make a complete stop at four way stop intersections than drivers in

automobiles without tinted windows.

HYPOTHESIS

KEY TERMS

Observational Study: Researchers observe behaviors under the conditions in which they naturally occur

Anonymity: The quality or state of being unknown

Disinhibition: A lack of restraint caused by outside factor such as drugs, alcohol, or rioting

Anti-Social Behavior: A person has a long-term pattern of manipulating, exploiting, or violating the rights of others

KEY TERMS

Literature Review

Zimbardo’s (1969) famous electric shock study on the relationship between anonymity and immoral behavior.

Ed Diener’s (1976) Halloween study on the effects of being less identifiable by personal information.

Andrew Silke’s (2003) analysis of attacks in Northern Ireland, anonymous criminals committed more violent attacks.

Literature Review

Singer’s (1965) study on less identifiable people being more likely to conform in the Asch (1951) situation.

According to Zhong & others (2010), “Even dimmed lighting or wearing sunglasses increases people’s perceived anonymity, and thus their willingness to cheat or behave selfishly.”

Patricia Ellison’s (1995) test on anonymity’s effect upon incivility amongst drivers.

Literature Review

Methods

Observational Study inconspicuous and unobtrusive

n = 400 200 tinted cars 200 un-tinted cars

3 different data collection locations

Random sample and representative

Must make a complete 3 second stop

Methods

Only cars approaching from the North and South directions

Tally in corresponding section of “Stopped/No Stop” and “Tint/No-Tint” section of observation chart

One researcher at each separate location

Selected data collection start time

Every other car observed

Car must have back tires behind limit line

Methods

Materials UsedStopped No Stop

Tint

No Tint

III

I

IIII

II

One researcher at each separate location

Selected data collection start time

Every other car observed

Car must have back tires behind limit line

Inclusion Criteria

Observational Definitions:

Tint/Stop: TSTint/No Stop: TNS

No-Tint/Stop: NSNo-Tint/No Stop: NN

Observational Definitions and Chart

Stopped No Stop

Tint

No Tint

IIII

IIII

II

Observational Location: oneOceanside, CA – 2:30-3:30pm

Observational Location: twoEncanto, CA – 5:30-7:30pm

Observational location: threeUniversity City, CA – 11:30-1:30pm

Partially rolled down windows

Completely rolled down windows

Automobiles without doors

Convertibles

Cars yielding to pedestrians

Exclusion Criteria

Tint •Stop: 70•No Stop: 130

No Tint

•Stop: 95•No Stop: 105

Results

Stop: 165No Stop: 235

Tinted Windows: 35% did make complete stop 65% did not make a complete stop

Un-Tinted Windows: 47.5% did make complete stop 52.5% did not make a complete stop

Results

Tinted Windows

Stop: 35%

NO Stop: 65%

Results

Un-Tinted Windows

Stop: 49%

NO Stop: 54%All Cars

Stop: 41%

NO Stop: 59%

DISCUSSION

We supported our hypothesis that drivers of car with tinted windows are less likely to make a complete stop at an intersection.

We failed to reject our alternative hypothesis.

We have acknowledged that the intent of reckless drivers may not be malicious.

Some confounding variables we found: Degree of window tint Contrast in obedience in different socioeconomic areas

Discussion

Other future studies will include relationships between window tint and: Medical conditions Safety concerns Style preference

Overall, we realize that while Deindividuation may not be the cause of getting window tint it is, however, the result.

Discussion

Anonymity. (2009). In The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Retrieved from http://www.thefreedictionary.com/anonymity

Berkowitz, L. Some determinants of impulsive aggression: Role of mediated associations with reinforcements for aggression. Psychological Review, 1974, 81, 165-176.

Blais MA, Smallwood P, Groves JE, Rivas-Vazquez RA. Personality and personality disorders. In: Stern TA, Rosenbaum JF, Fava M, Biederman J, Rauch SL, eds. Massachusetts General Hospital Comprehensive Clinical Psychiatry. 1st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Mosby; 2008: chap 39.

References

Disinhibition. (n.d.). In Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition. Retrieved from http://www.thefreedictionary.com/anonymity

Festinger, L., Pepitone, A., & Newcomb, T. (1952). Some consequences of deindividuation in a group. Journal of Abnormal & Social Psychology, 47, 382-389.

Johnson, R. D., & Downing, L. L. (1979). Deindividuation and valence of cues: Effects on prosocial and antisocial behavior. Journal Of Personality And Social Psychology, 37(9), 1532-1538. doi: 10.1037/0022-3514.37.9.1532.

Li, Brian, "The Theories of Deindividuation" (2010). CMC Senior Theses. Paper 12. http://scholarship.claremont.edu/cmc_theses/12

Myers, D. G. (2013). Social Psychology (11th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.

References

Observational Study. (2014). In Stat Trek. Retrieved from http://stattrek.com/statistics/dictionary.aspx?definition=observational_study

Singer, J.E., Brush, C.A., and Lublin, S.C. (1965). Some aspects of Deindividuation: Identification and Conformity. Journal of Experimental and Social Psychology, 1, 356-378.

Zimbardo, P. G. The human choice: Individuation, reason and order versus deindividuation, impulse, and chaos. In W. J. Arnold, & D. Levinc

(Eds.), Nebraska Symposium on Motivation (Vol. 18). Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1970.

All images are Microsoft clipart or Google Maps screenshots.

References