The connection between stress, density, and speed in crowds

Abstract

Moving around in crowds is part of our daily lives, and we are used to the associated restriction of mobility. Nevertheless, little is known about how individuals experience these limitations. Such knowledge would, however, help to predict behavior, assess crowding, and improve measures for safety and comfort. To address this research gap, we conducted two studies on how constrained mobility affects physiological arousal as measured by mobile electrodermal activity (EDA) sensors. In study 1, we constrained walking speed by externally imposing a specific walking speed without physical proximity to another person, while, in study 2, we varied walking speed by increasing the number of people in a given area. In study 1, we confirmed previous findings showing that faster speeds led to statistically significantly higher levels of physiological arousal. The external limitations of walking speed, however, even if perceived as uncomfortable, did not increase physiological arousal. In the second study, subjects’ speed was gradually reduced by density in a single-lane experiment. This study shows that physiological arousal increased statistically significant with increasing density and decreasing speed, suggesting that people experience more stress when their movement is restricted by proximity to others. The result of study 2 is even more significant given the results of study 1: When there are no other people around, arousal increases with walking speed due to the physiology of walking. This effect reverses when the speed must be reduced due to other people. Then the arousal increases at lower speeds.

Effects of group size on movement patterns and clustering dynamics in rats

“…The effects of population density on locomotion velocity also appears dependent on factors beyond density itself—the number of individuals that must interact is a variable that significantly impacts behavior. Furthermore, increasing the number of individuals in space also comes with increased levels of social stimulation and inevitable social interaction, along with real or perceived violation of personal space ([ 7 , 14 ]). When there are no other people around, there is an increase in physiological arousal, as measured by skin conductance responding, with increases in walking speed; however, the reverse effect is observed when the density increases to the point of having to slow down due to the presence of other people.…”

“…When there are no other people around, there is an increase in physiological arousal, as measured by skin conductance responding, with increases in walking speed; however, the reverse effect is observed when the density increases to the point of having to slow down due to the presence of other people. In such scenarios, physiological arousal increases at lower speeds, possibly indicative of increased stress [ 7 ]. Thus, variations in walking speed alone do not predict arousal—the effect is situationally dependent.…”

“…Opportunities for social interactions are advantageous as they could catalyze the formation of longer-term relationships. Affiliative bonding and kinship in humans and other animals alike can improve health outcomes ( [ 4–6 ]); yet, increases in population density can also increase stress [ 7 , 8 ]. Studies have examined the effects of housing conditions (density, space) on a number of behavioral measures (e.g.…”