Deindividuation

Sick mob urge teen into 60ft death fall - The Sun

COPS last night slammed a baying mob who urged a suicidal lad to jump 60ft to his death from a multi-storey car park.
Police negotiators had spent three hours trying to talk Shaun Dykes, 17, down from the ledge.

But a crowd gathered opposite and began goading Shaun, who was depressed at a relationship break-up.

Some yelled, "Get on with it" and "How far can you bounce?" before he fell, dying instantly.

Witnesses in Derby said adults were watching with their children.

Cops are investigating and Supt Andy Hough called it a "shocking reflection on society".

Rob Howard, head at Heanor Gate Science College which Shaun attended, said: "I wonder what value some people put on human life."

Shaun's parents, of Kilburn, near Derby, were too upset to comment.

The police stated that the behaviour of the crowd was a reflection of a sick society. How would a social psychologist explain the behaviour of the crowd?

The video below is an ITN news report of the incident.


Suicidal teen urged to jump
Uploaded by ITN. - News videos from around the world.

The link below is to a detailed article on deindividuation and has links to a range of research studies on deindividuation:

Article on Deindividuation