Overcrowding as a “Disease”: The impact of Social Crowding on Social Exclusion Behavior

Subjects: Psychology >> Social Psychology submitted time 2024-04-07

Zhang, Junnan Wang, Yixiang Wang, Wuyu Feng, Guo

Abstract： Social exclusion is a pervasive negative phenomenon that arises within various social contexts, and while its detrimental effects are well-documented, the underlying causes of exclusionary behavior remain insufficiently explored. This study seeks to delve into the factors and mechanisms that drive such behavior, with a particular emphasis on environmental influences that have been largely overlooked in previous research. Researches posit that social crowding—a condition that threatens one’s sense of personal space—can lead to the adoption of exclusionary behaviors as individuals seek to mitigate feeling of discomfort or threat. Furthermore, social crowding is known to evoke negative affect, which significantly influences interpersonal dynamics and can exacerbate tendencies towards social exclusion. Additionally, perceived control is often diminished under crowded conditions, leading to increased negative affect. The impact of social crowding is further modulated by the nature of the group, with different relationships between the individual and the crowding group eliciting varied behavioral responses. To test these propositions, two experiments were conducted. Experiment 1 (n = 171) utilized a between-subjects design to compare the effects of crowded versus uncrowded priming. By employing visual stimuli to manipulate perceptions of crowdedness, alongside measures of perceived control and the Chinese Positive Affect and Negative Affect Scale, the study employed a stigmatization-induced Cyberball paradigm to investigate the direct and mediating effects of social crowding on exclusionary behavior. Experiment 2 (n = 144) expanded the scope by introducing a 2 (crowdedness: crowded vs. uncrowded) x 2 (group type: acquaintances vs. strangers) between-subjects design. This experiment further manipulated group type through instructions and continued to use visual stimuli and the Cyberball paradigm to assess the impact of social crowding and the moderating influence of group type on social exclusion. The results of Experiment 1 revealed that participants in priming crowded condition were more likely to engage in exclusionary behavior and reported a heightened sense of exclusion compared with those in uncrowded condition. Experiment 1 also provided evidence for a sequential mediating role of perceived control and negative affect, suggesting that social crowding may precipitate negative affect by eroding feelings of control, thus paving the way for exclusionary actions. But the directing mediating effect of negative affect and the independent effect of social crowding were not significant. Experiment 2 replicated the significant main effect of social crowding, with participants in priming crowded conditions exhibiting increased exclusionary behavior and subjective feelings of exclusion. Moreover, the introduction of group type as a variable revealed that the effect of social crowding was significant only when the crowding group consisted of strangers, and not when the group was composed of acquaintances. In conclusion, the current research demonstrates that social crowding is a significant predictor of social exclusion, with perceived control and negative affect serving as fully sequential mediators in this relationship. The moderating effect of group type further refines our understanding of how social crowding influences exclusionary behavior. These findings nor only expand the scope of social crowding’s effects but also provide novel insights into the mechanisms driving social exclusion, offering theoretical and practical support for addressing and resolving interpersonal conflicts.

Peer Review Status:Awaiting Review

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