Polarization (psychology)

Polarization in communications and psychology, is the definition given to the behavior of a social or political group to split based on opposing views. Over time, more and more members of the original group join one or the other split group and fewer and fewer members remain neutral. This brings the two sides or "poles" further and further apart.

During polarization, there is a tendency for the opposing sides of the argument to make increasingly disagreeable statements, thereby creating more and more distance between the two sides. This is known as the "pendulum effect". Thus, it is commonly observed in polarized groups that judgments made after group discussion on a given subject tend to be more extreme than judgments made by individual group members prior to the discussion.

This process is also known as 'group polarization'. In the past, it was referred to as the 'risky shift phenomenon' and particularly referenced decision-making by a jury.

Studies have surprisingly found that groups make riskier decision than individuals do. An example of this is given in a study conducted by Wallach and colleagues: When deciding alone, people said the chess player should make risky choices only if the chances of success are 30% or higher. However, after discussing the issue with other participants in the a group, people changed their mind and decided that the chess player should go for the move even if there was only a 10% chance of success.^[1]

Polarization is also a term used in biological psychology to describe the process of a neural membrane accumulating ions of opposing polarity.

See also

• Group polarization
• Paul Watzlawick
• Polarization (politics)
• Richard Schwartz
• Risky shift

References