LIT 6.2 Crowd action as intergroup process: introducing the police perspective CLIFFORD STOTT and STEPHEN REICHER

Question 1

What research method did Stott and Reicher use in the Crowd Action Police Perspective 1998

Answer 1

The research method used in the study is qualitative, specifically employing in-depth interviews with police officers. The methodology involves a three-phased analysis of the interview transcripts.

1. Organization by theme
2. Identifications of constructions
3. Cross Theme Analysis

They also used video footage to show to the officiers.

Question 2

What is the police theory on crowd behaviour? Stott and Reicher 1998

Answer 2

The study found that while police officers acknowledge the heterogeneous nature of crowds, they tend to categorise crowd members into two distinct groups: a violent minority and a peaceful majority.

●The Violent Minority: This group is perceived as inherently anti-social and driven by a desire to cause disorder. Their motivations are attributed to either political goals or the pursuit of fun and excitement, depending on the context of the crowd event.
●The Peaceful Majority: This group is seen as composed of ordinary, law-abiding citizens who participate in crowds for legitimate reasons. However, police officers believe that these individuals become susceptible to irrationality and violence when submerged in the crowd, primarily due to the influence of the violent minority

Question 3

What is a Hijacked Crowd? (Stott and Reicher 1998)

Answer 3

The Influence of the Minority and the ‘Hijacked’ Crowd

Police officers believe the violent minority actively manipulates the peaceful majority, exploiting their supposed mindlessness and vulnerability to suggestion. This dynamic leads to the perception that any crowd, regardless of its initial composition, is susceptible to being ‘hijacked’ by a small group of agitators and turned violent. This perception reinforces the belief that all crowds are inherently dangerous and must be strictly controlled

Question 4

What are the practical constraints on policing crowds? (Stott & Reicher 1998)

Answer 4

In addition to their theoretical understanding of crowd behaviour, the study identifies practical constraints faced by police officers in crowd situations that further contribute to treating the crowd as a homogenous entity:
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Difficulty Identifying Individuals: In the chaos of a crowd, especially when violence erupts, police officers often struggle to identify the perpetrators of specific actions, making it difficult to target individuals. This problem is exacerbated by the use of riot gear, which limits visibility.
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Tactical Limitations: Standard police tactics for managing crowds, like dispersal and containment, are designed to address the entire crowd rather than individuals. Implementing targeted actions within a large, potentially hostile crowd presents logistical challenges.
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Time Pressure and ‘Split-Second’ Decisions: In fast-moving crowd situations, officers have limited time to make individual assessments and decisions, leading them to rely on general tactics that apply to everyone present

Question 5

What is the problem with the police view on crowds? Stott and Reicher 1998?

Answer 5

The study argues that the theoretical understanding of crowds as inherently dangerous and the practical constraints of policing them converge to create a self-reinforcing cycle. The perception of a homogenous threat justifies the use of indiscriminate force, which in turn can lead to escalation and further solidify the perception of the crowd as a unified, hostile entity

While not discounting the possibility of genuine crowd violence, the authors suggest that treating all crowds as inherently dangerous, based on a combination of theoretical assumptions and practical limitations, may become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Police actions aimed at controlling an assumed homogenous threat can inadvertently unify disparate groups within the crowd and contribute to the escalation of conflict