Effects of Population Density and Resources on the Feeling of Crowding and Personal Space

Two levels of density (high and low) and two levels of resources (sufficient and scarce) were manipulated in two separate experiments concerning social and spatial density. In each experiment, young adult females completed the measures of the feeling of crowding and personal space. In both conditions, the greater feeling of crowding was related to high density and scarcity of resources. The interaction of density and resources was not significant. Resources and spatial density influenced the personal space. The results suggested an increase in competition under high density and scarce resources conditions.