Perceptions of carry-over crowding in recreation environments

Anticipatory responding is an aspect of social interference and stimulus overload theories not previously used in recreation crowding research. The concept suggests that prior information about a setting will affect an individual's response to that setting. The hypothesis was tested that individuals' perceptions of crowding in one recreation environment will influence perceptions of crowding in a subsequent environment. This can be considered a carry-over crowding effect. Results indicate that there is evidence of such an effect. Density and perceived crowding during one phase of a recreation experience were directly and indirectly related to expectations and preferences for density and perceived crowding in a second phase of the experience.