London Riots: Factors and Theories

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Questions and Answers

What is suggested to be a key factor in decreasing disorder during events such as football crowds?

Limiting access to alcohol

Viewing police as legitimate (correct)

Increased police presence at the event

Strict enforcement of laws

What aspect of police interactions is emphasized as a preventive measure against riots?

Random patrols in high-crime areas

Conducting emergency drills with the community

Establishing ongoing relationships with citizens (correct)

Using advanced surveillance technology

What was a significant limitation of the theory mentioned regarding the spread of violence?

It failed to address historical contexts

It only focused on individual behaviors

It did not explain violence spreading between events (correct)

It relied solely on theoretical evidence

During the 2011 riots, what research method was notably used to analyze the events?

Video evidence cross-referenced with Google Street View Signup and view all the answers

What mindset does harsh policing reinforce within communities?

An 'us vs them' perspective Signup and view all the answers

What is a key factor that contributed to the London riots?

Police discrimination Signup and view all the answers

Which theorist argued that crowds cause individuals to lose control and become barbaric?

Gustave LeBon Signup and view all the answers

How does deindividuation affect behavior in a crowd?

Increases anonymity and aggression Signup and view all the answers

In the context of the Stanford prison experiment, what aspect contributed to the guards' abusive behavior?

Use of uniforms and sunglasses Signup and view all the answers

What did Sike's 2003 study on violence in Northern Ireland find regarding offenders wearing disguises?

They were more likely to engage in violent behavior Signup and view all the answers

What phenomenon was observed in children during the trick-or-treat study by Deiner et al. (1976)?

Identified children stole less candy than anonymous children Signup and view all the answers

How does anonymity alter individuals' behavior according to deindividuation theory?

It leads to lower self-control and impulsivity Signup and view all the answers

What was one limitation of deindividuation theory related to the London riots?

It does not explain why aggression was targeted at specific areas Signup and view all the answers

What did Johnson & Downing (1979) find concerning the influence of outfits on behavior?

Outfits influenced the way individuals administered electric shocks Signup and view all the answers

What is one possible response when group self-esteem is low?

Engaging in social competition Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of deindividuation in crowd behavior according to the SIDE model?

It increases responsiveness to group context norms Signup and view all the answers

Which principle of the SIDE model suggests that deindividuation does not necessarily equate to loss of self?

Deindividuation leads to decreased focus on personal identity Signup and view all the answers

What factor can explain the decrease in group interaction as a group's time membership ends?

Reduced identity commitment to the group Signup and view all the answers

What does the SIDE model imply about crowd behaviors during riots?

Crowd behaviors adhere strictly to group norms Signup and view all the answers

How did language and content differ among identified groups in the content analysis conducted by Postmes et al.?

They differed in slang, humor, and emotional expression Signup and view all the answers

According to Steiner et al.'s 2010 study, what behavior is observed in prototypical group members regarding group norms?

They are more likely to behave according to group norms Signup and view all the answers

What explanation do Reicher and Stott provide regarding the motivations behind rioting?

Rioting is based on strong group identification with low-status groups Signup and view all the answers

In the study carried out by Steiner et al., what effect did high need to belong have on peripheral members?

They displayed behaviors aligning with prototypical members Signup and view all the answers

What does the SIDE Model suggest about identity in crowd situations?

Identity shifts towards social identity Signup and view all the answers

According to the critique of the SIDE model, which group behavior remains unexplained?

The behavior of middle-class looters Signup and view all the answers

What is a major criticism of viewing crowds as 'mindless mobs'?

It overlooks structured patterns in crowd behavior Signup and view all the answers

What can lead to individuals leaving a low-status group?

Low self-esteem associated with group membership Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

London Riots - Tottenham: Contributing Factors and Explanations

Triggering Factors: Shooting of Mark Duggan, perceived police discrimination, and cuts to Tottenham services.

Crowd Behavior Theories

LeBon (1908): Individuals lose rationality and morality in crowds.
Freud (1921): Crowds unleash unconscious desires.
McDougall (1920): Crowds are easily swayed and lack self-awareness.

Deindividuation Theory

Instinctive vs. Societal: Humans possess innate selfish and aggressive tendencies, suppressed by societal norms and identification.
Anonymity and Loss of Self: Crowds offer anonymity, reducing personal accountability and self-observation. This weakens the constraints of guilt, shame, and fear, leading to impulsive, irrational, and uncontrolled behavior.
Application: This theory can explain violent behavior in a novel scenario, where anonymity fosters a lack of personal accountability and control.

Stanford Prison Experiment

Anonymity through Uniform and Role: Prisoners wore smocks and numbers; guards wore uniforms and tinted sunglasses—giving individuals anonymity within their roles.
Harmful Impact on Behavior: Guards engaged in humiliating punishments; prisoners passively accepted their status.

Sike (2003) Research on Northern Ireland Violence

Disguises and Aggression: Violence involving disguise (e.g., balaclavas, masks) was more likely to involve serious injuries, property damage, multiple victims, and exile of the victim.
Intent vs. Anonymity: This suggests disguises don't cause aggression, but may reflect pre-existing intent to engage in these acts while avoiding identification.

Deiner et al. (1976) Trick-or-Treaters Study

Anonymity and Rule Breaking: Anonymous children were more likely to break rules (taking more candy than allowed) compared to those who had to identify themselves.
Impact of Group Anonymity: Higher rates of rule-breaking occurred in a group setting where individuals were anonymous.

Deindividuation and London Riots

Relationship with Anonymity and Diffusion of Responsibility: This theory suggests that the anonymity and diffusion of responsibility within the crowds may cause deindividuation effects.

Anonymity, Identification, and Location

Conditional Anonymity: Not all disguises offer equal anonymity or impact behavior, depending on a variety of factors and conditions, including those who do not experience an equal degree of anonymity due to clothing.
Location-Specific Behavior: Riots were confined to specific areas with particular targets; the theory doesn't explain this.

Does Anonymity Always Lead to Aggression?

Johnson & Downing (1979): Nurses, dressed in nurses' outfits were less aggressive than KKK-attired individuals in administering shocks, even when anonymous. Identification, contrary to the theory, increased aggression among nurses but decreased aggression among the KKK group. This indicates that the role and situation also play a critical role in behavior, challenging the theory's universality.

Motivating Positive Social Identity: Group members seek positive social identity (high self-esteem).
Negative Social Identity: Low-status or stigmatized groups can develop negative social identities (low self-esteem). This can lead to different ways of adapting group behavior.

SIT and Low Self-Esteem

Individual Mobility: Leaving the group to join a better perceived group.
Social Creativity: Focusing on positive attributes of the group.
Social Competition: Challenging status quo to improve the group's standing.

Intergroup Conflict and Identity Shift: Crowd situations are intergroup, with "us" versus "them" dynamics. Identity shifts from a focus on personal to social identity within the context of crowds.
SIDE Model Principles: Deindividuation does not result in a total loss of self but involves a decrease in personal identity focus. Deindividuation makes the individual more susceptible to group norms and context. Deindividuation is neutral regarding external social norms.
Explaining Crowds through Norms: Crowd behavior is guided by the relevant group norms, and the perceived prototypical properties of the group. It allows for explanation of different behaviors within the same situation because of different group memberships and associated norms.

Group Norms and Content Analysis (Postmes et al 2000)

Group Dynamics and Language: Online group discussions revealed that groups differed in language use and content (e.g., slang, humor), even if topics were similar.
Prototypicality and Group Membership: Over time, communication became more prototypical within each group.

Prototypes, Belonging, and Group Norms (Steiner et al 2010)

Experimentation with Group Norms: The study showed that prototypical group members behaved more in line with group norms than peripheral members (regardless of perceived need to belong). High need-to-belong peripheral members aligned more with prototypical behavior than peripheral members with low need to belong
Individual Differences and Belonging: It also indicated a relationship between one's perceived prototypicality or outsider status and their adherence to group norms; need to belong is one factor.

SIDE Model Explanation of London Riots

Outgroup Targets: Riots directed towards outgroups (police, government, symbols of affluence) reflecting "us" versus "them" dynamics.
Group Identification and Location-Specific Action: Riots were contained in areas where people identified with a group, perceived as low status, and group norms influenced behavior. Group norms were highly pertinent to explaining and contextualising the rioting.

SIDE Model Critique

Failure to Explain All Behaviors: Doesn't fully explain the actions of all individuals (e.g., "middle class" looting), possibly due to broader rebellious group norms.

Comparison of Deindividuation and SIT

Overlap and Differences: Briefly compare and contrast the two theories to showcase their complementary and contrasting aspects; focusing on how SIT explains crowd behavior from a group and normative perspective and deindividuation focuses on how individuals behave in a social environment.

The Influence of SIT and Radio 4 Podcast on Riot Prevention

Rethinking Hooliganism as Crowd Behavior: Clifford Stott (and subsequent podcasts) moved away from the notion of inherent "hooliganism" to a focus on observing crowd behavior as structured, pattern-driven, and understandable.
Communicating and Understanding Crowd Perceptions: Stott stressed the importance of understanding how individuals within a crowd perceive their own actions and police responses to minimize further conflicts and prevent escalations.
Importance of Police-Community Relations: Building trust and positive relationships between police and citizens before incidents is crucial for conflict mitigation and de-escalation.

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Description

Explore the underlying factors that contributed to the London Riots, focusing on the shooting of Mark Duggan and the theories of crowd behavior. Examine perspectives from notable psychologists and theories such as deindividuation to understand the collective human behavior during crises.