Why bridge jumper was taunted

Large groups,explains Brad Bushman, a psychology professor at Iowa State University, not only dilute a sense of individuality, but also lessen accountability. The other factor Bushman believes may have been responsible for the Seattle group's behavior is a heightened sense of arousal. The problem with this heightened sensation, he says, is it reduces our cognitive capacities — our ability to think rationally.

Michael Vergare, psychology professor at the Thomas Jefferson University School of Medicine in Philadelphia, says the group's aggression may have been brought on by plain old selfishness. He called it a classic case of taking care of our needs. If we ignore the humanity, we become less humane, less civil," he said.

We'll notify you here with news about. The Seattle Times reported that she was distraught over a relationship. Owens said her friends and colleagues in Olympia were saddened by the news, and hope she recovers and gets help.

Her boyfriend's family issued a statement from Harborview saying her "friends and family are all here to support her. She is a wonderful woman. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers. Police received the initial call at about a. Tuesday, when motorists noticed the woman sitting on the bridge's railing on the southbound side of the freeway.

A car was parked in the emergency lane nearby. Police ordered the freeway shut down in both directions at 8 a. Southbound lanes remained closed for the duration of the incident. He said the taunts included obscenities which he did not want to repeat. The woman, 28, who works as a political lobbyist in Olympia, Washington, had stopped her car on the Ship Canal Bridge in Seattle early on Tuesday morning in a distressed state.

She climbed on to the edge of the bridge, where she sat down. Rush-hour traffic was halted for three hours as police attempted to talk her down and tried to contact her boyfriend. Finally, after jeers from the delayed commuters, she stood up for the first time and jumped into the canal. She emerged from the water feet first and was rescued by police divers.