Group Polarization

By: Alex Fox Katie VanhoyShelby PhillipsClint Johnson

Group Polarization

Group Polarization occurs when people with a similar opinion meet and discuss the topic and feelings about the topic are

enhanced and strengthened.

Group Polarization in History

Historically, instances of group polarization have a strongly negative outcome. However, sometimes, something good comes from their efforts. For example, the civil rights movement. When those involved in the movement met and talked, their ideas and theories grew stronger and stronger. In the end, they earned themselves new liberties and freedoms.

Ku Klux Klan

Formed by Confederate Army veterans White Supremacy group who terrorized

African Americans, Jews, and other minorities with lynchings and other hate crimes

Also held hatred towards any groups that competed with lower working class white men

Spread anti-Catholicism, anti-communism, and anti-Semitism ideologies with pamphlets and mass mailings

Infamous demonstrations of their power included the ceremonial cross burning

The white mask and robe uniform was originally adopted to hide identities since the groups were originally formed in small towns with low population densities; they were also helpful in seeing members in the dark since most of their activities happened at night

The Klan tended to kill anyone who interfered, even they were not a target group

Nazis

German political party of the twentieth century, led by Adolf Hitler which controlled Germany from the early 1930s until the end of World War II

Characterized by fascism, racism, militarism, nationalism and a focus on eugenics

Desired the development of the “master” or Aryan race, ridding the country of “impure” races

Targeted group included: Jews, gypsies, handicapped, homosexuals, communists, Jehovah's Witnesses, and others

Major symbols were the swastika and the stiff-armed salute

Their reign led to the Holocaust, a terrible tragedy leading to the death of millions with methods such as concentration and death camps

Black Panthers

Established in October of 1966 by Huey Newton and Bobby Seale, as a means of brotherhood and local protection from police violence and racism during the Civil Rights movement. Fought for ethnic and working class rights of Americans.

The group also provided medical clinics and fed needy children throughout their societies. The black panther party consisted of men and women.

The black panther party had over 2,000 members nationwide in several major cities. The members of these parties were constantly involved in shoot outs and other accounts of police violence. Many leaders including huey Newton were either trialed and jailed or killed as a result of these shoot-outs.

Malcolm X played a major role in some of the ideas of the Black Panther party where he preached the idea of standing up for your rights no matter what it takes, contrary to the Martin Luther King Jr. view of sitting patiently in a non-violent manner.

Their symbol was typically a black panther, and a physical symbol consisted off raising ones fist above their head symbolizing ‘power’.

Works Cited

Group Polarization. Retrieved May 20, 2008, from http://www.alleydog.com/glossary/definition.cfm?term=Group%20Polarization

Heffner, Christopher L. (2001) The Role of Groups. Retrieved May 20, 2008, from http://allpsych.com/psychology101/groups.html

Gordon. Social Influence. Retrieved May 20, 2008, from http://www.psych.wright.edu/gordon/psy110/Psy110Module54-outline.pdf

Cozzens, Lisa . "The Civil Rights Movement 1955-1965: Introduction." 06 22 1998. 23 May 2008 <http://www.watson.org/~lisa/blackhistory/civilrights-55-65/index.html>.