(HealthDay) -- Rather than trying to talk her out of a suicide attempt, passing motorists on a Seattle bridge encouraged a woman to "jump, bitch, jump!" according to this ABC News story. And, that's just what she did. Rescuers pulled her out of the water, and though she remains in serious condition, she's expected to recover.
What would make people behave so callously? Psychologists call it "deindividuation," and say it comes to people quite naturally anytime we're in a situation where we feel anonymous, like when we're part of a big crowd.
Other factors play a part as well. A large crowd lessens any one person's accountability so people may behave in ways that normally would not be considered acceptable. Also, in many situations like this, people are physically aroused.
"Physiologically, the presence of other people, heat and any unpleasant event -- i.e., the frustration of being delayed three hours during a rush-hour commute -- can increase the likelihood of aggressive behavior," says Brad Bushman, a psychology professor from Iowa State University.
These factors all play a part in the mob mentality that often takes over at sporting events. This news service story on Canada's C-Health looks at how post-game violence occurs.
