Behaviors during crisis?

Question

Ok- from what i can gather from watching the news is that every time something goes bad in the world, the people in that area loot and destroy their own communities. What is the reason for that? During Katrina we saw people looting jewelry stores, electronic shops etc. After the Rodney King thing we saw LA trashed. Now we see the iraqi's looting the abandoned British military base. But why? what purpose does it serve to ruin where you live or take things that do not belong to you all in the name of some crisis that is happening? During Katrina i could understand looting stores for food/supplies, but not the liquor stores or jewelry stores. they showed 1 guy walking a tv down the street! No electricity- um how can it be watched?

Answer 1

There are some people who will take advantage of ANY situation to steal and rob. A war or natural disaster just affords them with a better opportunity to do what they normally do. I'm not being negative. I think it's the sad truth.

Answer 2

People may do it because of cruelty, the opportunity, or simply desperation from not having any supplies whatsoever and needing to steal to survive. It can be watched by a lot of police officers, but really, they can't stop it all with the messed up security systems.

Answer 3

The easiest explanation is socioeconomically. Those Iraqis will never own the base just like the blacks in LA would never own it. So the impovershed groups vent their anger the only way they know how to have effect - trash - burn - steal.

Answer 4

crimes of opportunity. if you can get away with it they think they might as well do it. As for looting for booze during Katrina: if you just survived the worst US natural disaster, you would need a drink too.