Group displays of aggression

Sports events 2 or more teams and their spectators 2 or more teams and their spectators Aggression may be in group display – e.g. chanting, taunting, throwing Aggression may be in group display – e.g. chanting, taunting, throwing Little serious violence BUT heavy police presence Little serious violence BUT heavy police presence Football clubs have ‘firms’ (highly organised and discrete) Football clubs have ‘firms’ (highly organised and discrete)

Lynch mobs Mob administers death penalty independently of law Mob administers death penalty independently of law Common after abolition of slavery after World War I Common after abolition of slavery after World War I Lynching ends in murder but associated with larger display if group aggression Lynching ends in murder but associated with larger display if group aggression Lynching of black Americans attracted crowds of thousands with party atmosphere Lynching of black Americans attracted crowds of thousands with party atmosphere

Group display of aggression in humans DeindividuationSDT Description of theory Sports events Lynch mobs Evaluation

Name the theory 1. People cannot be identified within a lynch mob and do not have the ability to judge their own behaviour. 2. Hierarchies of groups within society are kept in place by legitimising beliefs that justify our attitudes. 3. It is based on evolutionary theory. 4. We are more conformist to group norms in a crowd and less able to regulate our individual behaviour. 5. This is measured using a scale. 6. The theory predicts that social change in favour of a low status group can lead to lynching. 7. Lynching is normally carried out by a dominant group against a group lower in the hierarchy. 8. This theory can help development of police practices at football matches. 9. Large crowds produce more aggression than small crowds, especially if a crowd has a collective mind. 10. The bigger the difference between groups, the more difference will be seen between the status, so the more aggression will occur.

Synoptic evaluation points: Perhaps one single theory alone is too simplistic in explaining aggression at a group level at sports events/lynch mobs Perhaps one single theory alone is too simplistic in explaining aggression at a group level at sports events/lynch mobs Guttman (1986) – no single theory can explain behaviour and aggression of sports crowds; an explanation comprising ideas from all theories seems most logical (introduce biological explanations here as dispositional theory) Guttman (1986) – no single theory can explain behaviour and aggression of sports crowds; an explanation comprising ideas from all theories seems most logical (introduce biological explanations here as dispositional theory)

The explanations focus on a ‘Western industrialised’ view of humans behaviour and so may not account for cultural differences (ethnocentrism) The explanations focus on a ‘Western industrialised’ view of humans behaviour and so may not account for cultural differences (ethnocentrism) Groups of humans are not always aggressive: crowds do not always lead to aggression; Cassidy et al (2007) investigated Mela (large Hindu festival) with 50 million people. Crowds behaved well and showed increased pro-social behaviour, showing crowd behaviour and collective living promote non-aggressive behaviour Groups of humans are not always aggressive: crowds do not always lead to aggression; Cassidy et al (2007) investigated Mela (large Hindu festival) with 50 million people. Crowds behaved well and showed increased pro-social behaviour, showing crowd behaviour and collective living promote non-aggressive behaviour

Practical applications of theories explaining aggression in groups to help understanding of real life situations – give examples from real life events Practical applications of theories explaining aggression in groups to help understanding of real life situations – give examples from real life events Compare and contrast the two theories – one is situational and one dispositional Compare and contrast the two theories – one is situational and one dispositional