What causes people to riot? Expert reveals the psychology of ‘mob mentality’

Destroying a hotel housing asylum seekers. Hijacking a vigil held for three young girls killed. Creating ‘race checkpoints’ and asking people if they are ‘white and English’.

These are the abhorrent actions of far-right rioters who have caused chaos across cities and towns up and down the UK over recent days.

But what goes on in the heads of rioters who instigate these attacks and those who decide to join them?

Dr Carolyne Keenan is a registered counselling psychologist and explained to Metro.co.uk what goes on under the surface when protest erupts into violence.

She said that with each person, there is always a ‘complex interplay of psychological, social and environmental factors’.

‘Psychological theories suggest that violence can stem from deep-seated emotional issues such as anger, frustration, or a sense of powerlessness,’ she said.

‘Violence often arises when individuals feel that it is a means to achieve control, assert dominance, or express unmet needs and emotions in the absence of effective coping mechanisms and social support.

‘This is generally as a result of frustration and feeling disempowered, like nothing else is working or having an impact.’

Dr Keenan said it is this perceived lack of power that prompts such a reaction from people who are often ‘exposed to violence in their family, community, or through media’.

A report by Metro has found that far-right Telegram channels are responsible for the wave of fascist street violence across the UK.

A sophisticated network of far-right influencers sowed the seeds for anti-Muslim and Islamophobic narratives, misinformation and a call for violent demonstrations in the aftermath of the Southport stabbings.

Misinformation on social media platform X helped fuel the false news that the suspect of the Southport stabbings was ‘Ali al-Shakati’ – a Muslim asylum seeker who came to the UK on a small boat.

This appeared from a ‘news outlet’ claiming to be Channel3 News in an article that has now been deleted.

But this was shared by a number of accounts including Russian state broadcaster RT, Andrew Tate, and an X account called ‘End Wokeness’, which has 2.8 million followers.

It was later confirmed that 17-year-old British born Axel Rudakubana is the person accused of the murder of three young girls in Southport.

The psychological feeling of wanting to be part of a ‘collective’ is responsible for a ‘mob mentality’ mindset, which Dr Keenan believes is a major reason why some people not associated with the far-right have taken part in these riots.

She said: ‘In a group setting, people may feel anonymous and less accountable for their actions, which can lower their inhibitions and increase impulsivity.

‘The presence of a shared emotion, such as anger or excitement, can rapidly spread through the crowd via emotional contagion, further driving the collective behaviour.

‘The diffusion of responsibility within the group can make extreme actions seem more acceptable, leading individuals to participate in acts they might not consider alone.

‘This combination of psychological mechanisms often results in behaviours that reflect the group’s mood rather than individual rationality.’

But despite feeling like they are part of a ‘collectivist’ identity, the prime minister Sir Keir Starmer called the rioters a ‘gang of thugs’ and confirmed 500 new prison cells would be opened to ensure the rioters are all jailed.

Already some people have been crying out for their mums in court as the charges are read out against them.

So far around 378 people have been arrested for the far-right riots.

The search for answers as to why offenders commit violent crimes often ends up with the nature versus nurture debate. Dr Keenan believes that in the case of these riots it is a mixture of the two

‘Individuals from marginalized communities may experience heightened frustration and a sense of injustice, which can be exacerbated by social cues and group pressures during times of social unrest,’ she said.

‘This level of division and anger is likely to be rooted in political and social unrest and as a response to an act that feels non-sensical and devastating to a community.

‘The immediate context, such as the presence of a provocative event or inflammatory rhetoric, can act as a catalyst for rioting.’

Many politicians like Nigel Farage and even former ministers for mainstream political parties like the Tories have been accused of stoking fear with their anti-immigration stance.

Former home secretary Suella Braverman once said a ‘hurricane’ of migrants were coming to the UK, which received widespread backlash from within her own party.

And in May this year, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage suggested Muslims do not share British values.

He also said recently: ‘What you’ve seen on the streets of Hartlepool, London or Southport is nothing compared to what could happen over the course of the next few weeks.’

Mr Farage also added: ‘The far right are a reaction to fear, to discomfort, to unease that is out there shared by tens of millions of people.’

Dr Keenan’s advice for those who feel frustrated or angry with political rhetoric is to use techniques to keep anger and violent tendencies in check.

She said: ‘Having routines around emotional regulation whether that is exercise, mindfulness meditation or therapy to access support for thoughts and feelings they are experiencing will help people to act consciously and with intention. 

‘There are some really touching and uniting acts of community taking place all the time but it is easy for these to be overlooked when confronted with such extreme acts of violence.

‘It can be helpful to seek out positive examples of humanity.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

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