Group-Induced Polarization of Attitudes and Behavior

Abstract

The chapter explains the group-induced polarization of attitudes and behavior. The chapter highlights the concept of group polarization with four observations. First, remember that group polarization refers to a strengthening of the dominant tendency, not to increased cleavage and diversity within a group. Second, it denotes an exaggeration of the initial mean tendency derived from data averaged over groups (this includes between-subject designs where baseline choices made alone are compared with choices made by other people following group discussion of group decision.) Note, third, that the polarization hypothesis is a more precise prediction than group extremization, which denotes movement away from neutrality regardless of direction. Finally, group polarization can occur without individual group members becoming more polarized. This could easily happen if a sharply split group of people converged on a decision that was slightly more polar than their initial average. In addition, future study of group interaction seems, therefore, to have the potential of developing a creative synthesis between theory and its social usefulness, thus making this an area that fulfills Kurt Lewin's vision for social psychology.