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 friends 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

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Groupthink is a concept from social psychology where a group of individuals make a decision or take an action that is often irrational or ill-advised, but done as a result of the group's desire for conformity and unanimity. In this scenario, the group of friends are likely experiencing groupthink by reinforcing each other's beliefs and opinions without considering alternative explanations or evidence. This could lead to them taking violent actions towards the rival gang without fully thinking through the potential consequences or legitimacy of their beliefs.

After a Group of Gang Members Learned That Their Friend