The differences are vast should be obvious, specifically "Wilding Groups" are committing criminal acts, where "Flash Mobs" do not. The media may have been lured into thinking they were similar, because some of the some of the Wilding groups had been posting on sites like Facebook and Twitter . This was done to prearrange meetings between fellow conspirators to commit their acts of violence. Much different than doing a synchronized dance or all showing up holding umbrellas and wearing derby's like "The Thomas Crowne Affair" with Pierce Brosnan.
The act of "Wilding" is not new, in fact it dates back to the acts committed in New York's Central Park back in 1989, when a female jogger was attacked, raped and left for dead. This is the first time the word "Wilding" was coined. This was then followed with attacks in New York City on the homeless population resulting in assaults, ball batting's and stabbings. Then in 1991 a rape and murder in which a female was stabbed 132 times occurred, described as the most brutal murder in Boston History. The incidents continue through the 1990's in New York. In 2000, June 11, during the Puerto Rican Day Parade a group of teens began an series of unprecedented acts of "Wilding" in which young women, were groped, sexual abused, battered and attacked. Much of this was seen through video by the television media. In 2008, in St. Louis teen African American males in large groups were attacking riders at train stations. In early, March 2010 in Philadelphia the acts of "Wilding" utilized technology and social networking sites in which they would commit acts of group bullying, sprinting down the block, stop to brawl with one another, assault pedestrians or vandalize property. It took concerted effort by the Philadelphia Police Department through stepped up enforcement to reduce these acts acts of violence. These acts began to snowball through Boston, South Orange, N.J. and Brooklyn. Milwaukee had an a group of 50-60 teens disrupting a area Shopping Mall in January of 2011. Now it has infected Chicago. Thus flurry of attacks included 8 attacks in just one weekend and the closing of one of the most famous beach's in the Midwest, North Avenue Beach.
So what is the cause to this growing problem?
This growing trend may be attributed to the "herd behavior" or "crowd hysteria.". "Mob Mentality" was first studied by a pair of French social psychologists Gabriel Tarde and Gustave Le Bon. The term "mob mentality" is used to refer to unique behavioral characteristic which emerge when people are in large groups. But it goes beyond more than just crowds which have gotten out of control. When in a group people behave differently in small groups of individuals than they do in big crowds, and a variety of factors affect the behavior of the crowd. This leads towards a theory called the Convergence theory, which holds that crowd behavior is not a product of the crowd itself, but is carried into the crowd by particular individuals. What this really says that crowds amount to a convergence of like-minded individuals. The Convergence theory says that crowd behavior "is not irrational, rather, people in crowds express existing beliefs and values so that mob reaction is the rational product of widespread popular feeling." This theory may bolster behavior may factor into the thoughts and issue that are facing teens in urban environments today.
What factors may be contributing to teen "Mob Mentality"?
Teens are faced with a variety of difficulties as they move towards adulthood. Contributing to this difficult time includes factors such as safety and security. For teenagers especially teens in the inner city, survival is one of those basic psychological needs that if not nourished will become negative factor in a teens life. Maslow's hierarchy of needs is a strong motivator for teens, check out our post on Maslow and teens for greater insight.
Survival (psychological) includes: food, water, teens may also survival as those basic things that they believe are necessary. Which would include money, which is a major contributing factor for teens, in a depressed economic environment and neighborhood. Teens may look at ssurviving (psychological), which means viewing life in a very inexperienced way, seeking survival at any cost. Teens who may operating primarily at a surviving perspective live on the fringes of society, they cannot see the larger picture or understand the larger rhyme or reason to life. If the basics needed to sustain physical life, are not met they will continue to act in that surviving mode until they are met.
The second major issue for teens includes Safety and Security. It has been said that much of the reason why these "Mobs" are traveling into the shopping centers and downtown areas of the city is two fold. First, it is far too dangerous for them to stay in their home communities. As evidenced by the 2009 beating death of Darien Albert outside Fenger High School. Being in their communities is unsafe, shootings, drug over doses, senseless killings are pushing teens from their communities to areas that are known for their safety.
Also a contributing factor to Safety and Security which may contribute to teens leaving their home communities include police presence. Increased police presence and the police perceptions, "run-ins", negative perceptions may play into the role of what they can do in their home community. Hanging out on the corner or front porch, will undoubtedly result in contact by the police. That contact in a 'teens' eyes may result in unwarranted contact, arrests, beatings, regardless of the realities of the outcome the perception of an inner city teen is molded and shaped by what they observe, encounter and are exposed to. Environment definitely plays a role in their experiences. This is not to say that behavior is excused, there is never any excuse for criminal behavior and the actions that bring someone to the commission of a crime of their own free will.
Lastly, economics play a role in "Mob Mentality." How it plays out is different for individuals and ethnicity's. For example, teens way of thought surrounds on comparing what they have to others. Appearance, clothing, electronics are motivating factors for teens surrounding issues of depression, perceptions of poverty, whether real or not, etc. For a teen, having the same things as their peers is an extremely motivating factor. If you do not have a "smart phone" or the new "IPhone" you not as "cool" or in the "in crowd" as your peers.
Consequently if you do not have an income, your family does not have discretionary funds, how do you what you want. If you do not have a means to get employment, or in most cases live within an economically depressed area such as the inner city, or "ghetto". According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics unemployment in Illinois in April 2011 was at 8.7%. But that number is not representative of individual cities or communities. In neighborhoods in Chicago unemployment is hovering at twice or three times that state statistics. Depressed communities do not have the businesses, customers and items that these groups of people are looking for. Do you believe that this is a contributing factor?
So where do teens go to get what makes them feel normal like their peers? They travel to where they know there is money, downtown shopping districts, beaches, entertainment districts, anywhere people may have the items in their possession or where the stores are that you can buy them. This should be obvious from a law enforcement perspective and understanding the crime triangle, Opportunity, Desire and Ability. Remove one of those outer issue and the crime does not occur. As a result, teens traveling into an area where the opportunity to rip off stores, pedestrians,. vehicles make those areas ripe for large groups using blitz type attacks to get "rewards" for their actions.
So what can be done to prevent it.
The approach is broad and will not likely sit well with most in these very difficult economic times.
Law Enforcement Response:
- Proactive approach in areas where the "Mobs" might appear, this includes increased uniform personnel, use of CCTV cameras, interaction with business and community leaders in targeted areas.
- Building community relationships with teens within those communities in which teens are coming out of. High crimes areas, depressed communities etc.
- Involving religious leaders in the building of those relationships with teens.
- Promote businesses into investing into those communities that have a need for jobs, income and affordable, quality products not currently available in their home communities.
- Reduce the union restrictions on business. Do not require unions in order for employees and business to keep more of the hard earned money to both increase profits and personal wealth. This will go far in infusing income into the community.
- Invest in the community by bringing business and job opportunities for the communities located in the inner city.
- Be involved in the activities in your community. Attend community policing activities. Get to know your neighbors. Report criminal activity. Participate in the solution by being witnesses instead of relying on the police alone to police your community.
- Be roll models for your communities youth. Setting good examples, expressing your dislike for behavior and provide active self-esteem building constructive criticism to youth.
- Work with Police, legislators, local business and informal community leaders to continue to build strong community relations.
