Have you wondered why you act locked in when working at the public library, but don’t actually feel productive? Well, it’s because you get the impression that everyone around you is peering over your shoulder, fixated on what you are doing. When you believe that eyes are constantly monitoring every word you type or every tab you switch to, you feel pressured to do your work to protect your reputation. However, the feeling of being surveyed distracts your brain from your homework and increases your anxiety and self-consciousness [1]. On the other hand, when you are at home, you feel a sense of security and comfort because the outside pressure from others does not exist, leading you to slack off rather than check off your to-do list. In fact, surveillance plays a major role in shaping how people think and act. The mere feeling of being watched causes people to act more prosocial, performing actions believed to be more socially acceptable at the expense of mental health and productivity [1].
The psychological impact of surveillance stems from research on the audience effect, the tendency for people to alter their behavior when they believe they are being observed [2]. The effect is also triggered by subtle cues of being watched. For example, researchers used an image of a pair of eyes to simulate surveillance, and the results showed that the image significantly affected participants’ willingness to contribute to a public good [3]. This shows that the brain craves societal acceptance.
The concept of reputational management is key to the brain’s response to surveillance [3]. In seeking acceptance from others, individuals tend to align their behavior with social norms and expectations. Some researchers also argue that humans don’t only act out of self-interest; rather, their actions are actually shaped by prosocial or pro-other tendencies, reflecting history’s tendency toward group selection [3]. When people demonstrate allegiance to a group, they intend to act altruistically. However, researchers have suggested that people act this way for reasons based in self-interest to protect their reputations.
Because of its psychological effects, surveillance also serves as a double-edged sword in shaping behavior and social responses. As mentioned earlier, one positive effect of surveillance is increased productivity and cooperation. Studies have concluded that people are significantly more likely to contribute to shared resources, follow rules, and exhibit helping behaviors when they feel observed [3]. For example, in the workplace, employers use digital surveillance to try to maintain efficiency and encourage employees to adhere closely to institutional guidelines [3]. As a result, surveillance, or “bossware,” has become a popular tool among employers seeking to improve performance and compliance.
However, the effects of surveillance are not entirely positive. Workers who are under digital surveillance reported increased stress and anxiety, feeling less confident, and more pressure to perform [3]. Over time, the stress can lead to more serious psychological consequences like heightened paranoia and disorders associated with anxiety [5].
In addition to influencing behavior, surveillance also alters how the brain processes information. Studies have shown that the presence of a spectator has a measurable impact on key cognitive functions such as vision, memory, and attention [1]. When people get the impression that they are being watched, their visual attention becomes more receptive, becoming quicker to notice faces, more sensitive to gaze direction, and more likely to search their environment for signs of judgment [1].
Similarly, memory is also directly impacted by surveillance. Individuals under perceived observation also exhibit stronger recall of social details, while performance on non-social memory tends to decline [1]. Thus, in conclusion, the brain tends to put more effort into maintaining a social image at the expense of other cognitive functions.
Although many corporations and governments employ surveillance to monitor security in the workplace and prevent crimes from occurring, this often comes at a cost of individual autonomy and privacy. These institutions believe that monitoring their population will promote prosocial behavior and productivity, but in reality, a large psychological toll is placed on individuals. Furthermore, the violation of privacy diminishes individual integrity since trust and compliance are forced from the fear of facing repercussions [6]. When there is a physical distance separating individuals and the watcher, a power dynamic is established where the surveillant has disproportionate control while those being monitored are disempowered. These ethical issues continue to limit individuals from engaging in protests and free speech in our current society. So, the next time you go to the library, understand the psychological effects you go through and do not be afraid to be your true self in public.