Why Does Group Polarization Occur

In contemporary society, we encounter examples of grouping polarization growing day by solar day, in terms of politics, sports teams, and civic pride.

Group polarization is divers as a phenomenon when "members of a deliberating group move toward a more extreme point in whatever direction is indicted past the members' predeliberation trend." Group polarization leads to irresolute attitudes amidst individuals inside the group. In addition, group polarization can lead to groupthink, which is when bad decisions are made by a group because some of its members don't want to express opinions or suggest new ideas that some in the group may disagree with.

People want to be unique and have opinions that differ from others, which could atomic number 82 to more farthermost views on a sure subject taking hold. This can accept unsafe consequences for guild as a whole.

Why Does It Happen?

There is a pair of theories that aid explain how group polarization works. The social comparison theory concerns individuals comparing views with others, while the informational influence theory focuses on an individual trying to persuade another.

Social Comparison Theory

Also known as the normative influence, this theory of group polarization states that people oft change their opinions when in a group in club to fit in or to be accepted, and to be looked upon more than favorably. Equally outsiders, new members of the group may promote a more extreme view of a topic than the rest of the grouping previously had. That can push the unabridged group toward the more than extreme viewpoint or the opinion that best correlates with the views of the grouping leader.

Informational Influence

This concept states "that people tend to enter a give-and-take with favorable data for both sides of the argument, and then change their stance favoring that side which provides more information in its arguments." This mainly occurs when an individual is unsure about what he or she believes, and that person will tend to follow which always viewpoint has the most information supporting information technology.

Grouping Polarization Examples

The importance of grouping polarization in social psychology is pregnant in contemporary times, because it helps explicate group behavior in a variety of existent-life situations. Some examples of these include discussions and decisions made near public policy, terrorism, higher life, and all types of violence.

One instance of informational influence within group polarization is jury verdicts. Multiple studies have shown that jury members in civil trials every bit a group often decided on punitive damage awards larger or smaller than they would accept chosen individually. The studies institute that people who favored lower castigating damage awards wound upward voting for an fifty-fifty lower honour after group discussions; likewise, for higher amounts.

Other contemporary examples of group polarization are demonstrated during sporting events. As individuals, people are less likely to be antagonistic to sporting officials. Merely with a crowd of partisan supporters rooting on their team, information technology'southward much easier to betoken discontent for the officials when a bad phone call is perceived by the fans.

More than recently, grouping polarization has been observed in cases of racial and sexual prejudice, as seen in racial detest groups such as the Ku Klux Klan, and it'due south besides observed in online forums and discussions.

Proceeds a Ameliorate Understanding of Group Polarization

Understanding grouping polarization and its effects on club has never been more important, particularly considering how individuals are finding groups within their communities and online. Y'all can learn much more nearly grouping polarization and other social phenomena with Alvernia University'due south fully online Bachelor of Scientific discipline in Psychology. With an online psychology available'southward caste, you tin can help people overcome their troubles as a mental health advocate and substance abuse counselor, or go eligible to pursue graduate studies.