Isabel Rocha Pinto, Professor at the Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences of the University of Porto (FPCEUP), was interviewed by the American Psychological Association (APA) as part of an article that explores the social phenomenon of vigilantism and the reasons why some people resort to it and, consequently, generate a wave of support from the community.
The concept of vigilantism refers to behaviors associated with the idea of taking the law into one’s own hands, as a response to alleged failures in the system.
Supporters of vigilantes share the belief that the justice system fails to punish perceived wrongdoing. Isabel Pinto, PhD, director of the Social Psychology Lab at the University of Porto, conducted research showing that when people perceive formal institutions of social control, such as the justice system, as ineffective, they are more likely to support harsh and informal measures to punish those they see as offenders (Pinto, I., et al., Peace and Conflict: Journal of Peace Psychology, Vol. 30, No. 3, 2024).
People are more likely to support vigilantes who are seen as defending core societal values or those who are part of their in-group, according to Pinto’s research. This is because the mismatch between the expected behavior of institutions and their actual behavior is seen as more threatening to one’s in-group, and individuals support informal punishment to perceived wrongdoers. The danger is that vigilantism can result from the demonization of groups that are perceived as threats to individuals’ social identity, as is the case with marginalized groups, such as the unhoused or immigrants.
“Demonization is the perception that the ‘other’ has bad intentions against us. So, violence is legitimized as a defense that the in-group needs,” Pinto said. This demonization may increase support for vigilantes who are seen as defending the in-group against perceived threats—whether or not those threats are real.
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