Social Psychology : Assignment

SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
(Modification)

Abstract
It has been described in this report about effects of anonymity effects on social group.
Also, content analysis methods is been used to gather quantitative data. Also, secondary data is
gathered from journals, articles, etc. and is analyzed. The findings and discussion is done along
with some implication of research has been discussed at the end.

Table of Contents
Introduction..................................................................................................................................1
Literature review..........................................................................................................................2
Findings.......................................................................................................................................5
Analysis.......................................................................................................................................5
Discussion....................................................................................................................................6
Implications.................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8

Evaluation of Anonymity effects based on SIDE model on social groups
Introduction
Anonymity has turned into an important aspect of electronic and computer interactions. It is
an art of staying anonymous, concealing an individual’s actual identity in the virtual world.
Anonymity tends to influence social aspects and the tasks of online interaction both. It has been
implicated on research towards social facilitation, decision making, relationship building and
crowd or group behavior. This research aims to ascertain the effects and implications of
anonymity with respect to group behavior and human behavior (Zimbardo, 1969). The Social
Identity Model of De-individuation effects (SIDE) is an attempt to explain that depersonalization
of own self and others leads towards the consequences of anonymity on group behavior (Spears
and Lea, (1994) ). The research reviews the contemporary literature on the SIDE theory, which
acts as a prominent social psychology theory. The research also focuses on how a SIDE model
addresses the issue of anonymity. Moreover, an examination of anonymity is conducted using
McLeod’s framework (Reicher, (2000). The contemporary studies in terms of anonymity
manipulations are assessed.
It is an established fact that identity plays a key role in moving along groups and
communities. However, anonymity is a fundamental part in surfing through the virtual world. It
is intriguing to learn about the virtual anonymity the cyber world provides. Anonymity is an
essential feature of computer mediated communication (CMC). The world of internet is
transforming rapidly since more of the world has shifted to online. Anonymity and free speech
have always been issues in the real world. Today, individuals believe that anonymity is
instrumental for their freedom of speech and protection of their identity (McLeod, (1997).
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