GROUPS IN SOCIETY
In-group/Out-group
• Group’s boundaries are made clear
• People define themselves as in-group
or out-group
• In-group: the group that a person
belongs to and identifies with
• Tend to separate themselves from other
groups through the use of symbols.
• Groups will often use badges, clothing,
names, or slogans as forms of
identification.
• Members view themselves positively and
they often view out-groups in negative
terms.
• Compete with out-groups, even to the
point of engaging in conflict.
• Out-group: Any group that a person
does not belong to or identify with
Groupthink
• Groupthink occurs when a group makes faulty decisions
because group pressures lead to a deterioration of
“mental efficiency, reality testing, and moral judgment”
• Groups affected by groupthink ignore alternatives and
tend to take irrational actions that dehumanize other
groups.
• A group is especially vulnerable to groupthink when its
members are similar in background, when the group is
isolated from outside opinions, and when there are no
clear rules for decision making.
Symptoms of Groupthink
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Illusion of invulnerability –Creates excessive optimism that encourages taking
extreme risks.
Collective rationalization – Members discount warnings and do not reconsider their
assumptions.
Belief in inherent morality – Members believe in the rightness of their cause and
therefore ignore the ethical or moral consequences of their decisions.
Stereotyped views of out-groups – Negative views of “enemy” make effective
responses to conflict seem unnecessary.
Direct pressure on dissenters – Members are under pressure not to express
arguments against any of the group’s views.
Self-censorship – Doubts and deviations from the perceived group consensus are not
expressed.
Illusion of unanimity – The majority view and judgments are assumed to be
unanimous.
Self-appointed ‘mindguards’ – Members protect the group and the leader from
information that is problematic or contradictory to the group’s cohesiveness, view,
and/or decisions.
• When the above symptoms exist in a group that is trying to make a decision, there is a
reasonable chance that groupthink will happen, although it is not necessarily so. These
group pressures lead to carelessness and irrational thinking since groups experiencing
groupthink fail to consider all alternatives and seek to maintain unanimity. Decisions
shaped by groupthink have low probability of achieving successful outcomes.
Symptoms of Groupthink
1. Illusions of invulnerability: "No one can defeat us."
2. Rationalizing away serious problems: "Danger signs?
What danger signs?"
3. Belief in the group's inherent morality: "We can do no
wrong."
4. Stereotyping the opposition: "Those guys are too dumb
or too weak to worry about."
5. Pressuring dissenters: "Look, are you a team player or
not?"
7. Illusions of unanimity: "Members who keep silent
probably agree with the ones who speak out."
Avoiding Groupthink
• First: Determine to stand for what is right, regardless of
the cost.
• Second: Determine to speak up when the situation
warrants it.
• Third: Seek to structure groups to avoid blind conformity
and encourage healthy debate.
• JFK once said, "When at some future date the high court of history
sits in judgment on each of us, it will ask: Were we truly men of
courage -- with the courage to stand up to one's enemies -- and the
courage to stand up, when necessary, to one's associates?”
Groupthink…How?
• One's ability to influence others.
• The implementation of plans WILL FAIL without the
collective group buying into the ideas.
So…how does one person or a small group of people get
an entire organization to do something they may not be
too excited about? What about something they are
vehemently opposed to?
Examples of Groupthink
• From small to large…
• The Wave
• Fraternities and Sororities
• Racism/KKK
• Gangs
• Cults/Jim Jones
• Holocaust/Hitler
THE WAVE
Around the 6th inning something happens...”the wave.”
• How does the wave start, who starts it, and how does a small group
get an entire stadium to stop paying attention to the game and do
"the wave“?
1) The wave is usually started by a single person or a small
group of VERY motivated individuals.
2) The wave is most effectively propagated when the game is
slow.
3) The wave begins with a small group and spreads over time.
4) A successful wave with everyone working together is actually
pretty fun.
FRATERNITIES AND SORORITIES
• Source of identification and belonging
• Live-in housing
• Group dynamics
• Similar interests, desires, friends, etc.
• What do social interests allow us to do?
HAZING
• Sorority at Rutgers University – women sent to hospital
• Fraternity at Rider University – student forced to drink alcohol, dies
of alcohol poisoning
RACISM AND THE KKK
Costumes shield identity- unanimity
Use fear to control members and non-members
GANGS
• Gangs are usually defined as a “group of individuals who
share a common identity and, in current usage, engage in
illegal activities. Once an urban problem, street gangs
have now infiltrated U.S. communities large and small.
Gang experts say at least 21,500 gangs – with more than
731,000 members – are active nationwide.”
• Initiation
• Dangers
• Necessity in most ghettos
• Protection
• Out-group: Ostracized
CULTS
• Jonestown
• One of the most extreme
examples of groupthink I can
imagine.
Cults
Purpose
to further interests of
leader
Recruitment
uses deception
Commitment
complete personal
sacrifice
Decision
Making
authoritarian
Leader
requires obedient
behavior
Complete control
• What is the purpose of cults?
• What do cults provide to their
leader(s)?
JONESTOWN – PART 1
JONESTOWN – PART 2
HITLER AND THE HOLOCAUST
• Brainwashing or proper persuasion?
• Using stereotypes as justification 
• Promoting unity, purifying the Aryan
race, national pride and purpose, selfworth, etc.
• Self-justification: describes how, when a
person encounters a situation in which a
person's behavior is inconsistent with their
beliefs, that person tends to justify the
behavior and deny any negative feedback
associated with the behavior.
• Aryan vs. Jew: Sub-human (In-group, Outgroup)
Questions…
• Is Groupthink always negative?
• How can Groupthink be positive?
• Examples of Groupthink in your life?
Themes in 12 Angry Men
1. Groupthink
2. Obedience to Authority
3. Conformity
4. In-group/Out-group
5. Persuasion
6. Prejudice/Stereotyping
7. Self-Justification
Keep these in mind for your
writing assignment!