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Group polarization effects have been demonstrated to exaggerate the inclinations of group members after a
discussion.
Study of this effect shown that after participating in a discussion group, members tend to advocate more extreme positions and
call for riskier courses of action than individuals whom did not participate in any such discussion. This phenomenon was
originally coined risky shift but in recent years certain experimental conditions have been found that lead group
discussion to inhibit risk; many now use choice shift as a replacement term for both effects.
In addition, attitudes such as racial and sexual
prejudice tend to be reduced (for already low-prejudice individuals) and
extremified (for already high-prejudice individuals) after group discussion.
- Moscovici, S., & Zavalloni, M. (1969). The group as a polarizer of attitudes. Journal of Personality and Social
Psychology 12, 125-135
See also: Groupthink, group-serving bias, list of
cognitive biases.
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