What is the ideology behind students and rioting?

[homedeeth]

I have always wondered why students riot? there must be more to being p*ssed off about being mistreated, misheard or even unheard.
what changes them from young, excitable, law abiding school leavers into angry, brick throwing protesters?

[andy-hughes]

The heady rush of independence.

Students are away from parental influence, and catch the 'crowd' mentality which is fired by a mix of youthful energy and the overwhelming conviction that the world is theirs to change, which is a phase that all young adults must pas through as a rite of passage from childhood to adulthood.

Add to that a degree of crowd hysteria, the perception of hated 'authority' stamping down on their expression of their opinions, the urge to take some kind of 'action' and someone throws something and the mood takes off.

Hey presto - a riot.

[Quinlad]

They also have less to lose.

When you're not having to hold down a job and look after a family, you can take action to back up your convictions.

I dare say more people would do the same if they had no commitments or dependents.

[123everton]

Yes to the above.

[Ice.Maiden]

Probably were such swots at school, that they never gave themselves chance to vent their feelings then! : )