1. By: Alex Fox Katie Vanhoy Shelby Phillips Clint Johnson
Group Polarization
By:
Alex Fox
Katie Vanhoy
Shelby Phillips
Clint Johnson
By:Alex Fox

2. Group Polarization
Group Polarization occurs when people with a similar opinion meet and discuss the topic and feelings about the topic are enhanced and strengthened.
By: Alex Fox

3. Group Polarization in History
Historically, instances of group polarization have a strongly negative outcome. However, sometimes, something good comes from their efforts. For example, the civil rights movement. When those involved in the movement met and talked, their ideas and theories grew stronger and stronger. In the end, they earned themselves new liberties and freedoms.
By: Alex Fox

4. Ku Klux Klan Formed by Confederate Army veterans
White Supremacy group who terrorized African Americans, Jews, and other minorities with lynchings and other hate crimes
Also held hatred towards any groups that competed with lower working class white men
Spread anti-Catholicism, anti-communism, and anti-Semitism ideologies with pamphlets and mass mailings
Infamous demonstrations of their power included the ceremonial cross burning
The white mask and robe uniform was originally adopted to hide identities since the groups were originally formed in small towns with low population densities; they were also helpful in seeing members in the dark since most of their activities happened at night
The Klan tended to kill anyone who interfered, even they were not a target group
slide by Katie

5. Nazis
German political party of the twentieth century, led by Adolf Hitler which controlled Germany from the early 1930s until the end of World War II
Characterized by fascism, racism, militarism, nationalism and a focus on eugenics
Desired the development of the “master” or Aryan race, ridding the country of “impure” races
Targeted group included: Jews, gypsies, handicapped, homosexuals, communists, Jehovah's Witnesses, and others
Major symbols were the swastika and the stiff-armed salute
Their reign led to the Holocaust, a terrible tragedy leading to the death of millions with methods such as concentration and death camps
Slide by Katie

6. Black Panthers
Established in October of 1966 by Huey Newton and Bobby Seale, as a means of brotherhood and local protection from police violence and racism during the Civil Rights movement. Fought for ethnic and working class rights of Americans.
The group also provided medical clinics and fed needy children throughout their societies. The black panther party consisted of men and women.
The black panther party had over 2,000 members nationwide in several major cities. The members of these parties were constantly involved in shoot outs and other accounts of police violence. Many leaders including huey Newton were either trialed and jailed or killed as a result of these shoot-outs.
Malcolm X played a major role in some of the ideas of the Black Panther party where he preached the idea of standing up for your rights no matter what it takes, contrary to the Martin Luther King Jr. view of sitting patiently in a non-violent manner.
Their symbol was typically a black panther, and a physical symbol consisted off raising ones fist above their head symbolizing ‘power’.

10. Works Cited
Group Polarization. Retrieved May 20, 2008, from
Heffner, Christopher L. (2001) The Role of Groups. Retrieved May 20, 2008, from
Gordon. Social Influence. Retrieved May 20, 2008, from
Cozzens, Lisa . "The Civil Rights Movement : Introduction." May 2008 <
Started by: Alex Fox