Psychology behind aggression

In mobs and crowds

Aggression may be a result of a state of de-individuation which means that an individual feels that he/she has lost his/her personal identity and merges into a group identity, according to Dr. Amila Isuru.

According to this Psychiatrist such de-individuation creates a state of increased sensitivity to a situation specific to a social norm linked with a group. This can increase aggression when the group norms are aggressive (like at Rambukkana this week) or reduce aggression when the group norms are benign (like at the protests at Galle Face Green).