NCJ Number
158646
Date Published
1994
Length
33 pages
Annotation
Evidence suggests that certain instigating events are often the starting points for mob violence, such as the assassination of political leaders, police brutality, and withdrawal of privileges, and particular group processes are also implicated in mob violence.
Abstract
Rumors about an event, contagion, modeling, deindividuation, group polarization, group mind, loss of self, and evolution toward increasing violence are among the processes that may change a crowd into a violent mob. Both leaders and bystanders can provoke or inhibit violence. An individual's reasons for participating in mob violence include frustration, hostility, exploding anger, and the desire to hurt; the desire for institutional and social change; feelings of connection to and unity with others; and feelings of control, power, and even intense excitement. Mob violence targeting a particular victim group may be due to hostility toward that group or to demographic characteristics such as employment status, race, class, and group membership. Research recommendations for the further study of mob violence are presented, as well as policy recommendations for reducing mob violence. 124 references