When Do Mobs Become Violent?

Sep 5 2009
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 05: Members of the English Defence League hold make shift signs as they shout towards Police and anti-right wing protesters during a rally on September 5, 2009 in Birmingham, England. The English Defence League (EDL) are holding their demonstration in various locations around the city with minor scuffles amongst Saturday shoppers. The EDL slogan is Peacefully Protesting Against Militant Islam and claim that 'it is not an act of Fascism to oppose Terrorists and Sharia' (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

Mobs are interesting organisms. Whenever a group of people gather with common interests they automatically become more powerful than if they act alone. This power can give- at least some of them- the courage to push the limits of acceptable behavior.

If you are in the position to make decisions as to weather to disperse the crowd you need to look at certain things that I will outline here.

- Intensity of emotion. Track emotion. Are people becoming more intense? Are they chanting?

- Are they burning off adrenaline by jumping up and down, or pushing back and forth.

- Are they showing anger in their faces with wide open eyes, or staring, or snarles?

- Are they balling up their fists. This is a clear sign of aggression.


Sep 5 2009
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 05: Members of the English Defence League hold make shift signs as they shout towards Police and anti-right wing protesters during a rally on September 5, 2009 in Birmingham, England. The English Defence League (EDL) are holding their demonstration in various locations around the city with minor scuffles amongst Saturday shoppers. The EDL slogan is Peacefully Protesting Against Militant Islam and claim that 'it is not an act of Fascism to oppose Terrorists and Sharia' (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

Other things to ask:

- What are the demographics of the group. Would these people generally be violent if they were acting alone? Are they a wide range of ages, different genders, etc.

- What time of day is it? If the group can work under the cover of darkness there is a higher chance of violence.

- Are they protesting with any type of facial covering that would make them harder to identify.

- Is is possible that the participants had been drinking or using drugs?

- Is it celebratory mob (like winning a sporting event)? If this turns disobedient it is usually burning off adrenaline.


Mobs can be one of the hardest things to predict and this often puts people in positions of authority ill at ease. In the face of aggression, they will meet the mob with their own aggression. This often times leads to more violence. It may appear that the mob is testing authority by turning over and/or burning a car but in actuality they are burning off adrenaline.

When to make the move to disperse the crowd?

- It is always better to move in when the emotion is on the downward trend.

- If they are attempting to claim more area, such as moving a police line back.

- If the mob is turning on itself and begins to act out violently against each other.◦

When Do Mobs Become Violent?