Bonneville International
Bonneville International
Groups Can Make You Do Stupid Things, And You Won't Be Aware
Groups Can Make You Do Stupid Things, And You Won't Be Aware
Groups Can Make You Do Stupid Things, And You Won't Be Aware
Wednesday 24th October 2018
Discover how group behavior influences decisions and learn tips to resist conformity in this episode of Counseling On Demand with Dr. Fred Riley.
16 minutes
Informative
Thought-provoking
Empowering
Educational
Supportive
About this podcast
Author:
Bonneville International
Overview:
Categories:
Sobriety Toolkit
Healing Relationships
Recovery from Trauma
Mindfulness & Technology in Health
Navigating Intimate Relationships
Episodes:
100 (View all)
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Get the buttons here!Group Dynamics: How Unseen Forces Shape Our Choices
Group behavior is not peer pressure in someone telling you do something outright. A lot of times you may not even know you are engaging in...
Imagine you're at a party, and suddenly you find yourself joining in on a group activity you wouldn't normally do. Ever wondered why that happens? In this episode of 'Counseling On Demand', Dr. Fred Riley teams up with Derek Overstreet from the New Millennium Group to dive into the intriguing world of group behavior. They challenge the common belief that group behavior is just peer pressure in disguise.
Instead, they reveal that much of our group actions are driven by subconscious instincts, the same ones that make birds flock together or fish swim in schools. This isn't just about being told what to do; it's about an automatic response that's hardwired into our brains. Dr. Riley and Overstreet share fascinating examples, like an experiment from the show Brain Games where people join a line without knowing why—simply because others are doing it.
They also recount a task with youth groups involving lines on a board, showing how quickly individuals conform to group opinions, even when they might secretly disagree. The duo also discuss the darker side of group behavior, such as how it can feed into social anxiety and depression, and the dangers of groupthink. They offer practical advice for recognizing when we're falling into these patterns and how to break free.
Tips include practicing disagreement with the group to build individuality and questioning our discomfort in social settings to understand if it stems from genuine disagreement or fear of standing out. This episode is packed with insights that are both eye-opening and actionable. Whether you're dealing with mental health challenges or just curious about why we act the way we do in groups, you'll find this discussion both enlightening and empowering.