Diener, E., Fraser, S. C., Beaman, A. L., & Kelem, R. T. (1976). Effects of deindividuation variables on stealing among Halloween trick-or-treaters.
Conducted a naturalistic study on Halloween to assess the effects of 3 deindividuation variables (anonymity vs nonanonymity, alone vs group, and groups with or without a child who was made responsible for the group's actions) on stealing by children. Concealed raters unobtrusively observed approximately 1,300 trick-or-treating children who were assigned to various conditions and given an opportunity to steal candy and money. Significantly more stealing ...