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

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Groupthink is the concept from social psychology that may contribute to an act of violent revenge in this case. Groupthink occurs when a group of people make faulty decisions because group pressures lead to a deterioration of "mental efficiency, reality testing, and moral judgment". In this case, the gang members are all conforming to the belief that revenge is necessary without questioning the validity of the claim or seeking outside information. This can lead to an escalation of violence without any evidence to support it.

After a Group of Gang Members Learned That Their Friend