Abstract
IN a study of the social behaviour of different groups of children, one of the aspects selected for specific investigation was the effect of group density. In view of the findings from animal studies, it was hypothesized that increasing group density would have adverse effects on the nature and frequency of social encounters, and that these effects would differ according to the personality of the subject. Furthermore, if earlier hypotheses regarding the physiological activation of autistic1,2 and brain-damaged3 children are correct, these two groups of children might be expected to manifest, in exaggerated form, the reactions of introverted or relatively inhibited individuals and extraverted individuals, respectively, in the normal population.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Hutt, C., Hutt, S. J., Lee, D., and Ounsted, C., Nature, 204, 908 (1964).
Hutt, C., and Hutt, S. J., Anim. Behav., 13, 1 (1965).
Hutt, S. J., and Hutt, C., Epilepsia, 5, 334 (1964).
Kanner, L., J. Paediat., 25, 211 (1948).
Clarke, J. R., Proc. Roy. Soc., B, 144, 68 (1955).
Chitty, D., Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc., B, 236, 505 (1952).
Chitty, D., in The Numbers of Man and Animals, edit. by Cragg, J. B., and Pirie, N. W. (Edinburgh, 1955).
Calhoun, J. B., Sci. Amer., 206, 139 (1962).
Leyhausen, P., Discovery, 26, 9, 27 (1965).
Spitz, R., J. Amer. Psychoanal. Assoc., 12, 752 (1964).
Leyhausen, P., Symp. Zool. Soc. Lond., 14, 249 (1965).
Russell, W. M. S., paper to Brit. Assoc. Adv. Science (1965).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
HUTT, C., VAIZEY, M. Differential Effects of Group Density on Social Behaviour. Nature 209, 1371–1372 (1966). https://doi.org/10.1038/2091371a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/2091371a0
This article is cited by
-
Brief Report: Designing a Playground for Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders––Effects on Playful Peer Interactions
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders (2007)
-
Asian colobine social structure: Ecological and evolutionary constraints
Primates (1998)
-
Clinical indicators derived from the patient assessment instrument in the long-stay residents of 69 VA nursing homes
Journal of General Internal Medicine (1994)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.