Group Polarization

Group Polarization Imagine that you’re asked to recommend whether someone should behave in a risky or a cautious manner, such as whether a business should risk trying to expand or whether an employee in a stable but boring job should quit and take a more creative job in a new but unproven tech company. Imagine that after you process the relevant information and come to an initial opinion on this, you and a group of other people who have also arrived at initial opinions come together and discuss the case. What will be the result of the group discussion of the various opinions?

Common sense suggests two alternative predictions. Perhaps the most reason- able prediction is that there will be a compromise as group members move toward the average of all the individuals’ attitudes. But common sense also suggests another prediction. Many people familiar with committees agree that forming a committee is a good way not to get something done. We think that as lone individuals, we are willing to take risks and implement new ideas, but we recognize that groups tend to be cautious and slow moving. So another prediction here would be that the people in your group would become more cautious in what they advocate.