Street fighting occurs when a situation has gone very sour. Frequently, fighting will break out on the street when two groups of differing opinions meet. Of course, physical displays of aggression are the result of highly charged emotional moments. In a second, what was an outwardly peaceful scene can become violent. “Mob mentality” is a term used by those of the psychological field to describe a kind of mass brain that develops in large groups. An individual who otherwise considers herself to be an independent thinker may find her actions and thoughts syncing with the greater majority—even if those actions are extremely atypical in comparison with her normal comportment
When street fighting is spoken of, the average person thinks of gangs, mobs, or even action movies. In most countries, such a violent outbreak is extremely unusual; in the United States of America, there are laws in place that require large gatherings to be peaceful, otherwise police officers may be forced to intervene on behalf of the greater populace. In places of civil unrest, though, where the government is fragile or non-existent, fighting may be more likely to break out on the streets. During times of war, military forces may be forced to skirmish in cities, requiring soldiers to go from street to street in order to control an area.
Above all, street fighting is an act of violence. By definition, it hurts others, and in severe situations can send participants (or unfortunate bystanders) to hospitals or even result in death. Civilizations cannot function or progress when violence occurs; such primitive outbursts only cause tragedy and solve nothing. Thankfully, it does not happen frequently in America, and there exist many outreach groups that target youth who may be at-risk for involvement in organizations that would encourage such behavior, like gangs.