The statement provided is false. De-individuation and social facilitation are not examples of distal variables; instead, they are concepts associated with social psychology and group dynamics that play a role in understanding certain aspects of human behavior, including criminal behavior. To clarify, distal variables typically refer to factors that occur in the distant past and are considered remote influences on behavior.
De-individuation refers to a psychological state where individuals in a group lose their sense of individual identity and responsibility. This phenomenon often occurs in large crowds or anonymous settings, where people feel less accountable for their actions. While de-individuation can contribute to impulsive or deviant behavior, it is not a distal variable. Rather, it is a proximal factor that operates in the immediate context of a given situation.
Social facilitation, on the other hand, is a concept that describes how the presence of others can influence an individual's performance. It suggests that the mere presence of an audience or observers can enhance or inhibit an individual's performance on a task, depending on the nature of the task. Like de-individuation, social facilitation is a more immediate influence and not a distal variable.
Distal variables in the context of criminal behavior might include factors like childhood experiences, early life trauma, socioeconomic conditions, or genetic predispositions. These factors occur in the distant past relative to specific criminal events and are considered more remote influences.
In summary, de-individuation and social facilitation are not examples of distal variables; they are concepts associated with social psychology that operate in the immediate context of social situations. Distal variables, in contrast, are more remote influences that shape individuals' predispositions to engage in criminal behavior.