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Crowding and Density
Crowding - Density
Density- Objective measure- The number of people per area
Crowding- Subjective feeling- Person’s experience of the number
of people per area
Social density - Spatial density
Consider a room of 30 students. To double density we could add 30 more students; or, half the size of the room.
Social density- When the number of people in a fixed
space is varied
Spatial density- When the space is varied for a fixed
number of people
Inside density - Outside density
Density inside and outside a building can be dramatically different.
Consider a one room apartment. In one building, there are 8 people; in another there are 4 people in two apartments, yet the density per block is constant.
Indoor density- Ratio of people to space inside buildings
Outside density- Ratio of people to space outside building
Density - proximity - Crowding
Indoor and Outdoor density is often a function of the proximity of others.
Crowding is more related to the number and nearness of others in such a cluster; and not to area-based measures
Components of Crowding
Crowding is based on some situational antecedent- Too many people approach too close- Person’s goal is blocked- Resources are overcome by demand
Crowding implies emotion or affect – usually……??
Crowding will produce a behavioural response
- Flight, fight, avoidance, withdrawal ,……..??
Crowding experience
Situation modes. People feel- Behaviour is constrained- Interfered with physically- Presence of others causes discomfort- Expectations have not been met.
Affective modes include:- Negative, or positive, reactions to others- Negative, or positive, reactions to situations
Behaviour modes include:- Assertiveness (protesting)- Activity completion (let’s finish and get out of here)- Psychological withdrawal (tune-out the crowd)- Immediate physical withdrawal (I’m out-of-here!)- Adaptation (let’s make the best of the situation)
Influences on Crowding
Personal Influences- Personality and attitude- Psychiatric status- Preferences and norms- Experience- Gender
Social Influences
- Presence and behaviour of others- Coalition formation- Interpersonal familiarity- Provision of information
Physical Influences
- Scale- Architectural variations
- Place variations- Temperature
Living in high density residential spaces
- Encourage more psychological distance between individuals
- Allow more times and places for escape- Develop strong norms about what may be said to
whom- Restrict who may go where within the ‘home’ and
how each space within the home is to be used- Discourage social interactions with acquaintances
inside the home; encourage it in public places- Learn to appreciate higher levels of social
stimulation.
Model of Crowding
Physical setting
Perception of spatial adequacy
Congruenceuncrowded
Behavioural and Intrapsychic Adaptation
Mediating factors
IncongruenceCrowded or Under-crowded
Personal factorsSocial setting
Physiological and Psychological
Stress
Crowding and Space Design
How do we lessen the perception of crowding (How do we reduce sensory overload) in:
- Residences - Offices- Prisons- Wilderness Areas (hiking trails, camping,
Mt. Everest)
Applications to your place
Take the concepts from crowding and density and apply to the space you are designing.
Consider: - Social and spatial density- Personal, physical and social influences
on crowding