I believe this just happened over the weekend in Sydney with co-ordinated groups of ppl attacking others based on their skin color.
Somehow if you have enough people in a group who think roughly the same way, the self-reassurance of grouping with like minded people tricks them into beliving that any actions of the individuals of the group are endorsed by all the others. It then follows that the the norms of society no long apply to them as they have the anonymity of the crowd and the implicit approval of each other as they carry out their acts.
It explains why when enough people gather below a potential suicide jumper, eventually the crowd will start chanting "jump"
There is a branch of psychology dedicated to mob mentality. I have read that it links back to the time when we were herd animals and had to perform collective actions in groups for the sake of ourspecies.
Frankly, I think explanations like that are just insulting to other animals.
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follow up article.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2005-12-12-australia-unrest_x.htm
what a mess this is turning into. the actions of a few idiots on both sides of the community is threatening the safety and lifestyle of the whole city. The govt needs to clamp down hard and send a message that vigilantism and gang warfare will not be tolerated.
On a side note, it seems that the Australian govt does not have, or is unwilling to deply specially trained riot police.
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