Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Differential Effects of Group Density on Social Behaviour

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

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Hutt, C., Hutt, S. J., Lee, D., and Ounsted, C., Nature, 204, 908 (1964).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Hutt, C., and Hutt, S. J., Anim. Behav., 13, 1 (1965).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Hutt, S. J., and Hutt, C., Epilepsia, 5, 334 (1964).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Kanner, L., J. Paediat., 25, 211 (1948).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Clarke, J. R., Proc. Roy. Soc., B, 144, 68 (1955).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Chitty, D., Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc., B, 236, 505 (1952).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  7. Chitty, D., in The Numbers of Man and Animals, edit. by Cragg, J. B., and Pirie, N. W. (Edinburgh, 1955).

    Google Scholar 

  8. Calhoun, J. B., Sci. Amer., 206, 139 (1962).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Leyhausen, P., Discovery, 26, 9, 27 (1965).

    Google Scholar 

  10. Spitz, R., J. Amer. Psychoanal. Assoc., 12, 752 (1964).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Leyhausen, P., Symp. Zool. Soc. Lond., 14, 249 (1965).

    Google Scholar 

  12. Russell, W. M. S., paper to Brit. Assoc. Adv. Science (1965).

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints 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

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/2091371a0

This article is cited by

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.

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing