Expert: Pack mentality emboldens boys to bully

KUALA LUMPUR: The teenagers who savagely assaulted 18-year-old student T. Nhaveen may have been enboldened by pack mentality.

Criminologist and psychologist Dr Geshina Ayu Mat Saat said since they were in a group, it might have “diluted” the guilt felt by each attacker.

“When they are in a pack, these boys get verbal and physical encouragement from the rest of their gang which minimise personal individual responsibility.

“Each of them would have felt they are only inflicting a small amount of pain on the victim, but from the victim’s perspective, it is in fact a severe assault,” she said yesterday.

Consultant psychiatrist Datuk Dr Andrew Mohanraj said that in group bullying, things usually get out of control.

He said a ring leader would reinforce bullying tendencies in his members, who as individuals might not have the courage nor the inclination to inflict excessive trauma or humiliation.

Dr Geshina and Dr Mohanraj were asked to comment on the horrendous and brutal assault that left Nhaveen in a coma.

The assailants would justify themselves through having lack of empathy for the victim’s well-being, Dr Geshina added.