Crowding effects of density and interpersonal distance

In this study, Turkish teenagers were the subjects in an investigation of the effects of spatial and social variables on perceived crowding. In Study 1, male and female subjects were presented with diagrams that simulated social situations in which (a) distance between the subject and other persons, (b) number, or density, of subjects, (c) sex, and (d) friendship were systematically varied. Results indicated a significant crowding effect for interpersonal distance but not for density. In Study 2, data from Turkish college students showed that the lack of effect for density on crowding was stable. Friendship and sex of others had significant main and interaction effects.