Toward a behavioral theory of crowding in outdoor recreation: An evaluation and synthesis of research

Abstract

Research on crowding in outdoor recreation is critically reviewed and formally integrated with that in social psychology, using a series of theoretical axioms, propositions, and theorems. A distinction is drawn between density as a physical construct and crowding as a psychological evaluation of density. Two theoretical traditions in social psychology, stimulus overload and social interference, are compared and related to crowding research in outdoor recreation. Social “carrying capacity” studies in outdoor recreation are criticized for their failure to distinguish between density and crowding. The role of behavioral goals, objectionable behavior, and minimum physical spatial requirements in determining crowding perceptions is discussed.

Key Words:

• crowding
• carrying capacity
• social psychology
• outdoor recreation