NCJ Number
206418
Journal
Aggression and Violent Behavior Volume: 9 Issue: 4 Dated: July 2004 Pages: 353-378
Editor(s)
Vincent B. Van Hasselt,
Michel Hersen
Date Published
July 2004
Length
26 pages
Annotation
Through a selective literature review (social-psychological), this article examines aggression theories, underlying factors, social-psychological profiles, the act of peacemaking, and crowd control as they relate to sport riots.
Abstract
Spectator violence is a universal and ongoing concern in many countries. Throughout history, many sports have been plagued by unruly elements among their following. Sport riots are a troubling and costly phenomena which, on occasion have resulted in deaths, injuries, and damage to property. Spectators witnessing major sports include a substantial core of males poised to do battle with others in the stands. Whether or not they act on their inclination depends on a range of factors which include: situational, environmental, and social influences. Some field studies of spectator aggression have been conducted as tests of mainstream aggression theories. Theories highlighted in this article include: (1) the need for excitement; (2) a FORCE typology (frustration, outlawry, remonstrance, confrontation, and expressive; (3) Smith’s typology (issue oriented to issueless riots); and (4) safety values, vents, and drains. A social-psychological profile of rioters includes: (1) individual differences, such as personality and physiological processes; (2) social factors, such as identificatory ties, those running in packs, and those with a history of fighting; and (3) cognitive factors such as priming, attributions, hostile attributional bias, false consensus effect, and the Bedouin syndrome. When examining crowd control measures, it is necessary to look at tactics, physical restrictions, alcohol, humor, and peaceful models. The challenge for crowd control specialists is to minimize that violence and for researchers to suggest the means by which that goal might be achieved. References