{"id":535,"date":"2021-04-01T08:01:27","date_gmt":"2021-04-01T12:01:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/creativitymesh.com\/?p=535"},"modified":"2022-07-25T07:26:40","modified_gmt":"2022-07-25T11:26:40","slug":"what-is-group-polarization","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/creativitymesh.com\/what-is-group-polarization\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Group Polarization? Definition and Examples"},"content":{"rendered":"
What is group polarization? <\/span><\/p>\n Before we dwell deep into a question, let me ask you one thing: <\/span><\/p>\n Would you ever consider committing a crime?\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Chances are, you would say <\/span>no way <\/span><\/i>right off the bat\u2014no hesitations, no need to think twice.<\/span><\/p>\n You know it\u2019s against the law. You don’t want to get arrested. But most of all, you\u2019re aware that everybody is abiding by the rules to maintain peace and order.<\/span><\/p>\n But what if everyone else was doing something illegal?<\/span><\/p>\n Say you\u2019re at a grocery store going for a supply run, when all of a sudden, the customers start stealing the products.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n There they go, grabbing everything on the shelves and making a run for the door. Not one single soul bothers to pay.<\/span><\/p>\n Would you consider stealing then?<\/span><\/p>\n You might say no now for the sake of your conscience. But if you\u2019re living that situation, chances are, you might pocket a can of soup and dash out the door.<\/span><\/p>\n That scenario is the perfect example of group polarization. Understanding this concept gives you a lot of insight into how the people around you affect the way you think.<\/span><\/p>\n What is group polarization, you might ask?<\/p>\n Read on to learn more.<\/p>\n [divider width=”full”]<\/p>\n Recommended Reading:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n [divider width=”full”]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In social psychology, the concept of<\/span> group polarization<\/span><\/a> explains how a group thinks. It describes the tendency of a group to come up with more extreme decisions than the individual members’ decisions.<\/span><\/p>\n This phenomenon is most evident in<\/span> jury deliberations<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n A jury member\u2019s opinion will strengthen when other members echo a similar argument.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n As a result, the group will tend to adopt more extreme positions compared to the decisions they first made on their own.<\/span><\/p>\n In these extreme positions, the group can push for higher or less intense punishments.<\/span><\/p>\n Further<\/span> research<\/span><\/a> shows that group polarization occurs because of human nature.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In a supportive environment, you\u2019re inclined to reinforce your attitudes. But in the face of opposing opinions, you tend to moderate your arguments.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Things can go from bad to worse during<\/span> sports events<\/span><\/a>. Crowds tend to become more aggressive when the game gets heated. One frustrated fan isn\u2019t so bad, but take a hundred, angry supporters who want to burn the stadium down\u2014now, that\u2019s trouble.<\/span><\/p>\n Group polarization causes people\u2019s attitudes to intensify. And in effect, their actions become extreme as well. But what causes a group to resort to such behavior? Here are some theories:<\/span><\/p>\n This theory suggests that people adjust their attitudes to fit in a group. Furthermore, new group members may push for a more extreme stance and cause others to adopt a similar view.<\/span><\/p>\n According to these theories, each person has developed a concept associating themselves to a specific group. Similarly, each person also perceives other groups of people into social categories. We often refer to this as <\/span>stereotyping<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n The theory also explains that a member can be aware of the two sides of an issue upon entering a discussion. But in the end, they will most likely lean towards a stance that presents more substantial information.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The internet is a huge playground where you can meet people who are a lot like you. There are hundreds of online communities that share your interests\u2014Pinterest, YouTube, Tumblr\u2014you name it.<\/span><\/p>\n You might be a member of a cross-stitching enthusiasts group on Facebook. You might follow hundreds of Twitter users who idolize the same Korean celebrity.<\/span><\/p>\n There\u2019s no harm in being part of these social media groups, especially if it\u2019s all for fun and entertainment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n But whether you like it or not, the online communities you engage in have a great influence on the way you think. And without realizing it, you might have already succumbed to group polarization.<\/span><\/p>\n An example is this<\/span> study about Twitter communities.<\/span><\/a> The study found that the interaction of like-minded individuals strengthens their group\u2019s beliefs. Additionally, the interaction of different-minded people reinforces the factors that divide them.<\/span><\/p>\n These findings say a lot about our preferences when interacting with people online.<\/span><\/p>\n Twitter presents a broad spectrum of opinions. Yet, most users would rather engage with like-minded groups. Although there were interactions between different-minded users, their discussions weren’t as meaningful.<\/span><\/p>\n Another<\/span> study shows that Facebook communities<\/span><\/a> have a similar pattern. According to this research, each Facebook user has at least five friends who share the same political views. Furthermore, the site\u2019s algorithm functions so that users won\u2019t bump into links and articles that are against their beliefs.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Reid Hastie and Cass Sunstein conducted an experiment to observe the way people think in groups.<\/span><\/p>\n They gathered citizens from two different US cities. Then, they categorized the citizens according to their political standpoints. The two groups\u2014Boulder and Colorado Springs\u2014were then asked to discuss their views about a few political matters.<\/span><\/p>\n At first, individual members recorded their opinions anonymously. Then, they discussed such views together and aimed to decide as a group. When the group deliberation was over, the participants recorded their opinions again.<\/span><\/p>\n Hastie and Sunstein found three significant observations from the experiment:<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Have you agreed to a decision because of the pressure of your peers?<\/span><\/p>\n Let\u2019s say you and your friends are in a restaurant and deciding which type of pizza to order. Everyone wanted a Hawaiian pizza, and you’re the only one who wanted Pepperoni. Deep inside, you know you despise pineapples on pizza.<\/span><\/p>\n But because of groupthink, you go ahead and agree.<\/span><\/p>\n Groupthink happens because a person doesn’t want to disagree with the majority. And so, they refuse to bring new ideas to the table. They may also shy away from contradicting others to avoid conflict.<\/span><\/p>\n When members of a group succumb to groupthink, they are often pressured into agreeing to avoid being left out. As a result, members become \u201cyes men\u201d\u2014people who agree for the sake of the group\u2019s harmony.<\/span><\/p>\n This might seem like a favorable setup. But, being a yes man has detrimental consequences to you and other people in your group. Here are some of the effects of groupthink:<\/span><\/p>\n [divider width=”full”]<\/p>\n Recommended Reading:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n [divider width=”full”]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Groupthink in organizations and communities can be dangerous. The<\/span> in-group<\/span><\/a> believes that they are invulnerable and dominant, and as a result, they can underrate people from the out-group.<\/span><\/p>\n\n
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What is Group Polarization?<\/b><\/h2>\n
How does Group Polarization happen?<\/b><\/h2>\n
Social Comparison Theory<\/b><\/h3>\n
Social Identity and Self-Categorization<\/b><\/h3>\n
Information Influence Theory (Persuasive Arguments Theory)<\/b><\/h3>\n
The Internet: A Place for Group Polarization<\/b><\/h2>\n
How Does Group Polarization Affect the Way Our Thinking?<\/b><\/h2>\n
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Producing a Group of Yes Men: The Effect of Groupthink<\/b><\/h2>\n
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Why is Groupthink Dangerous?<\/b><\/h2>\n