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The Psychology of Looting
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| Contributor | RP |
| Last Edited | RP Sep 02, 2005 07:46pm |
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| Category | Analysis |
| News Date | Saturday, September 3, 2005 01:00:00 AM UTC0:0 |
| Description | "This is a life-and-death situation. From the perspective of the looter, 'Who knows what tomorrow will bring?' " said Joseph Napoli, co-author of "Resiliency in the Face of Disaster and Terrorism: 10 Things to Do to Survive." "The late-night comedians have joked about those who were carrying TVs. On my television screen I saw people taking the basic necessities — food and supplies. And can we really fault them for that?"
Other Katrina victims may have followed a mob mentality and concluded that they could participate in looting activities since others were doing it.
"Why are we shocked? We are seeing an intense array of usual human behavior," said Napoli. "Some people are going to take things, some people are going to be honest and some are going to be dishonest. What's shocking others is the intensity in which we're seeing it."
"But," Napoli continued. "This is not an ordinary situation. Any disaster causes chaos and disorder. That's why we work so hard to maintain an orderly society." |
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