After a group of gang members learned that their friend had died in a seemingly random accident, several of the friends started blaming a rival gang for the death. Even though there was no evidence whatsoever that the death had been intentional, the more the gang members talked, the more passionate they became in their belief that an act of revenge was necessary. What concept from social psychology may contribute to an act of violent revenge in this case?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Groupthink is a phenomenon where a group of people make irrational or dysfunctional decisions because of the desire for conformity and unity within that group. In this case, the gang members are becoming more passionate about seeking revenge against a rival gang without any evidence of wrongdoing, which can be seen as an example of groupthink.

After a Group of Gang Members Learned That Their Friend