The Experience of Crowding

A multidimensional scaling study was performed to clarify the status of the construct crowding. The study was based on the assumption that crowding experiences involve an attribution process during which individuals label and define their emotional state. Semantic interrelationships between linguistic constructs which mediate this attribution process were described by multidimensional scaling and hierarchical clustering procedures. Results revealed clusters of experiential terms which were consonant with prominent theoretical perspectives on crowding, as well as clusters indicating dimensions of crowding not included in current models. The data suggest that a taxonomy of crowding experiences may be required.