The concept of group communication, especially with regards to groupthink, kind of intrigues me. As defined by Irving Janis (1972), groupthink is a mode of thinking that people engage in when they are deeply involved in a cohesive in-group, when the members' strivings for unanimity override their motivation to realistically appraise alternative courses of action.
An example of this phenomenon, which basically says that people will blindly comform to a group's principles in order to stay in it, regardless of personal beliefs, can be seen in this clip, taken from the 1987 movie Full Metal Jacket.
Brief summary of the story so far: The first part of the film centres around a bunch on fresh recruits undergoing Marine training, sometime before the Vietnam War. Main focus is on two recruits: Pvt. "Pyle", who is an overweight, blundering and slightly off trainee who has gotten his fellow trainees in trouble more than once due to his inability to take command, and Pvt. "Joker", his buddy. The platoon has decided that they have had enough of Pyle getting them into trouble, and, led by Pvt. "Cowboy", give him a blanket party, something Joker is hesitant about.
Joker can be clearly seen here to be exhibiting groupthink, as he is hesitant on beating Pyle, but does so eventually under pressure from Cowboy. His is the only obvious example here, but when it comes to such an extreme action that won't sit well with some people, and considering that there are so many other nonviolent alternatives, seeing everyone else in the platoon joining in probably means that at least some of the others exhibit groupthink as well, although not so outwardly.
Looking at the symptoms of groupthink:
Illusion of invulnerability: the platoon believes strongly that they are better than Pyle that they feel justified in their actions.
Belief in the group's own morality: Joker makes the decision that his beliefs are not as important to him as those of everyone else as a collective, and so in the interest of being with the group, he forgoes his own hesitations.
Shared stereotypes: the platoon believes that Pyle, in a sense opposing the groups by not obeying orders, stereotype him as a deviant deserving the beating and fail to recognize that Pyle might be slower than normal (which can be clearly seen throughout the first half of the movie).
Collective rationalization: continuing a certain action despite contrary information. In this case, Joker obviously can see that Pyle is in pain, but because of groupthink, continues with the beating anyway.
Self-censorship: Joker, for a moment, wants to voice his disapproval, but instead chooses to keep quiet upon pressure from Cowboy.
Illusion of unanimity: the entire platoon is unanimous in their participation in the blanket party, despite at leasy one of them not agreeing with it. However, because everyone thinks that everyone is agreeable to it, the rest hop on board anyway.
Pressure on dissenters: nobody voices out their dissent here, but Joker comes close to doing so. Cowboy recognizes that Joker is hesitant and might refuse to take part, and pressues him into doing it.
Mind-guards: self-created protection from dissenting outside information. Here, in the isolated environment of Parris Island, where the Senior Drill Instructor is the law, his absence creates an atmosphere of lawlessness here, and thus they choose to carry out things as they see fit and ignore any rational argument.
However, is groupthink that powerful? By this argument, can it influence people to commit more henious acts, like murder, or is there a limit where a person draws the line?
An example of this phenomenon, which basically says that people will blindly comform to a group's principles in order to stay in it, regardless of personal beliefs, can be seen in this clip, taken from the 1987 movie Full Metal Jacket.
Brief summary of the story so far: The first part of the film centres around a bunch on fresh recruits undergoing Marine training, sometime before the Vietnam War. Main focus is on two recruits: Pvt. "Pyle", who is an overweight, blundering and slightly off trainee who has gotten his fellow trainees in trouble more than once due to his inability to take command, and Pvt. "Joker", his buddy. The platoon has decided that they have had enough of Pyle getting them into trouble, and, led by Pvt. "Cowboy", give him a blanket party, something Joker is hesitant about.
Joker can be clearly seen here to be exhibiting groupthink, as he is hesitant on beating Pyle, but does so eventually under pressure from Cowboy. His is the only obvious example here, but when it comes to such an extreme action that won't sit well with some people, and considering that there are so many other nonviolent alternatives, seeing everyone else in the platoon joining in probably means that at least some of the others exhibit groupthink as well, although not so outwardly.
Looking at the symptoms of groupthink:
Illusion of invulnerability: the platoon believes strongly that they are better than Pyle that they feel justified in their actions.
Belief in the group's own morality: Joker makes the decision that his beliefs are not as important to him as those of everyone else as a collective, and so in the interest of being with the group, he forgoes his own hesitations.
Shared stereotypes: the platoon believes that Pyle, in a sense opposing the groups by not obeying orders, stereotype him as a deviant deserving the beating and fail to recognize that Pyle might be slower than normal (which can be clearly seen throughout the first half of the movie).
Collective rationalization: continuing a certain action despite contrary information. In this case, Joker obviously can see that Pyle is in pain, but because of groupthink, continues with the beating anyway.
Self-censorship: Joker, for a moment, wants to voice his disapproval, but instead chooses to keep quiet upon pressure from Cowboy.
Illusion of unanimity: the entire platoon is unanimous in their participation in the blanket party, despite at leasy one of them not agreeing with it. However, because everyone thinks that everyone is agreeable to it, the rest hop on board anyway.
Pressure on dissenters: nobody voices out their dissent here, but Joker comes close to doing so. Cowboy recognizes that Joker is hesitant and might refuse to take part, and pressues him into doing it.
Mind-guards: self-created protection from dissenting outside information. Here, in the isolated environment of Parris Island, where the Senior Drill Instructor is the law, his absence creates an atmosphere of lawlessness here, and thus they choose to carry out things as they see fit and ignore any rational argument.
However, is groupthink that powerful? By this argument, can it influence people to commit more henious acts, like murder, or is there a limit where a person draws the line?
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