There you would find all sorts of identities. Ranging from the gothic look to the retro individual with his *cap*. They stick in groups, show rare signs for formality, appearing oblivious to any stress or troubles.
So what are groups? 2 or more people who congregate together?
A group is a collection of individuals who, as a result of interacting with one other over time, become interdependent, developing shared patterns of behavior and a collective identity. In short, a group is people whom you will feel a certain sense of belonging due to collective experiences.
Our theories tells us that if a groups have certain symptoms, they are experiencing groupthink and result in undesirable effects. It makes me wonder if those groups are cineleisure are facing such symptoms? Can we prevent groups of people blasting their music in public places like the bus?Are all gang fights due to such theories? If so, what are ways to prevent such repercussions?
"It is a necessary condition (high cohesion), but not a sufficient condition" (Janis, Victims of Groupthink, 1972). There is a possibility but not certainty that you might face groupthink.
Some symptoms:
- Illusions of invulnerability (They take risks and feel nothing can stop them)
- Stereotyping (Classifing others as weak or stupid, inferior to those in the group
- Pressure to conform (Do things together, ignoring the consequences of their actions. If you can beat them, join them)
- Self censorship (Remain silent about alternative views from the group)
- Illusions of unanimity (If no one says anything, silence is consent)
- Illusions of unanimity (If no one says anything, silence is consent)
How to avoid?
- Groups should have a "critical evaluator”. This will allow each member to freely air objections, doubts and alternative.
- Leaders should not air their opinions about the issue.
- External experts should be invited and members should be able to consult them individually.
- External experts should be invited and members should be able to consult them individually.
- A devil's advocate should be appointed to keep the group active and less complacent.
Groupthink seems to only appear in a workplace or school project where everyone is just comforming but i think it happens also in everyones social circle. Being with your social circle you sometimes feel empowered to do anything, ask for a girls number? Vandalise property? Talk loudly/blast loud music? How do we then combat these groups with their Illusions of invulnerability?
I think the pragmatic solution would be for the group to realise it themselves, through education. What other solutions do you think people outside the group's circle can employ?
Most unintimidating looking cine crowd ever.
ReplyDeleteWell, spare the rod, spoil the child. Let these sociopaths (with reference to your post) receive rejection/kick-in-nuts, caught by police and fined, get subjected to the same treatment/grow deaf!
But well yea, education does it all, nicely. Learning from one's mistakes is a tried and tested tradition that rarely fails. Role models may be applied. However they are not as effective as 'consequential models' - meaning having witnessed the punishment dealt upon those who also have behave inappropriately.
I agree with your idea of the symptoms of groupthink because i am guilty of these symptoms.
ReplyDeleteHowever i think your points on how to avoid the symptoms are not feasible.Education might be a way but groupthink is a mental and social problem.
Education can only do the minimum of letting the child know what is right or wrong.In the end it depends on the maturity and EQ(Emotional Intelligence Quotient) of the child to decide what is right or wrong.
Sadly punishment might be the most effective way out.
mojo-jojo the josieposie! ok that's like soooo your new name! :D
ReplyDeleteok that was so irrevalant. i rest my case.
cliques tend to congregate and influence each other. advices tend to fall on death ears.
there isnt much to be done considering how they've put both feet into the grave.
i would say schools cant do much to discipline such people either.
here's an eg : my sec sch has gazillions of black sheep, discipline FAILed on them.
there was this particular group which i heard after graduating from school actually killed someone. they're currently awaiting trial and could be sentenced to death. they are only 20 at most.
as such, would you then say education can quell groupthink?
like what you say. When you are in a group, one would be more daring and all as he/she is comfortable being in the group or wanting to be the best out of the group.
ReplyDeleteI feel that education had done its part in educating the people. There is a bare minimum that education can do. You can learn but not put into practice. Like one can learn that sealing is bad from their school but why do people still do it?
i think why people do bad things is cause they do not believe that its bad. its the people on the outside that thinks its bad. for example, like b'day BASHES (literally) friends would have fun beating people up but people on the outside do not understand how this is possible.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment joooseph! :D honestly speaking, your blog address is a little.. mmm! haha.
ReplyDeleteI think it's hard for us to actually address to a certain issue as an outsider unless we're in the group itself. And, like you've said "people do bad things cos they do not believe its bad.". This, I agree. It's just like how we use to copy homework from friends or cheat in small tests during our school days. We felt that it's not exactly bad since it's just homework and SMALL tests, right? What harm can it cause anyway~ Ha. :x
Mm, and regarding education.. I do agree that it helps a person in one way or another. However, whether or not he/she chooses to apply the knowledge gained is probably another issue to be discussed.
Should I say it all depends on one's self-control? :)
yup every group needs a leader and i remember you are style 1 n 3 haha... Best styles for a leadership role lol! Every group should also have someone who is able to evaluate what the group is doing and whether the group is heading towards the correct direction. If not, its time to guide everyone back on track.
ReplyDeleteCare to share any of your group with us? ^^
Feel free to drop by my blog and comment on social networking =)
haha share any group?! well i think how effective ur style also highly depends on the group! and i think my comms group had a very good mix of styles!
ReplyDeleteanyhow, yea education coupled with punishment might be a better solution. perhaps tt's wad Singapore has been all along. so we shouldn't complain that we're so stressed! ha. but sadly, children nowadays have no free will but to study and get punished with parents having opinions like us (that he/she needs to be educated if not punished) let us hope that when we do have children, it'll be with an open mind and never with exasperation!