biostudies-literatureTedeschi ENIMH NIH HHSNational Institute of Mental HealthNational Science FoundationThe Tianqiao and Chrissy Chen Foundation1499-1510https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC8697704biostudies-literatureUnknown21(7)When we face danger or stress, the presence of others can provide a powerful signal of safety and support. However, despite a large literature on group living benefits in animals, few studies have been conducted on how group size alters subjective emotional responses and threat perception in humans. We conducted 5 experiments (N = 3,652) to investigate whether the presence of others decreases fear in response to threat under a variety of conditions. In Studies 1, 2 and 3, we experimentally manipulated group size in hypothetical and real-world situations and found that fear responses decreased as group size increased. In Studies 4 and 5 we again used a combination of hypothetical and real-world decisions to test whether increased anxiety in response to a potential threat would lead participants to choose larger groups for themselves. Participants consistently chose larger groups when threat and anxiety were high. Overall, our findings show that group size provides a salient signal of protection and safety in humans. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).Emotion (Washington, D.C.)Fear in groups: Increasing group size reduces perceptions of danger.PMC8697704P2026052P50 MH0942582P50MH09425GRFP DGE 16-44869Armand SSilston BBuyalskaya AMobbs DTedeschi EfalseFear in groups: Increasing group size reduces perceptions of danger.When we face danger or stress, the presence of others can provide a powerful signal of safety and support. However, despite a large literature on group living benefits in animals, few studies have been conducted on how group size alters subjective emotional responses and threat perception in humans. We conducted 5 experiments (N = 3,652) to investigate whether the presence of others decreases fear in response to threat under a variety of conditions. In Studies 1, 2 and 3, we experimentally manipulated group size in hypothetical and real-world situations and found that fear responses decreased as group size increased. In Studies 4 and 5 we again used a combination of hypothetical and real-world decisions to test whether increased anxiety in response to a potential threat would lead participants to choose larger groups for themselves. Participants consistently chose larger groups when threat and anxiety were high. Overall, our findings show that group size provides a salient signal of protection and safety in humans. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).2021-01-01T00:00:00Z2021 Oct2025-04-04T12:04:57.024Z2025-04-04T12:04:57.024ZS-EPMC86977043492869210.1037/emo0001004