The relevance of group dynamics for understanding the U.S. Capitol insurrection.

Abstract

This article applies multiple perspectives to demonstrate the relevance of group dynamics for understanding and explaining some of the events associated with the January 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. As the concluding article for this special issue on the group dynamics of the insurrection, the various perspectives show the strength of the field to address the complexity of the insurrection. Method: The relevance of the group dynamics literature is demonstrated through an analysis of the insurrection from multiple theoretical and conceptual perspectives including the following: group polarization, dynamic social impact theory, person-situation interaction framework, cognitive dissonance, emergent norm theory, focus theory, emotional contagion, groups in conflict, communication models, social identity, intergroup dialogue theory, aggression involving groups, models of crowd behavior, motivation to action, and motivational systems. Results: These various perspectives point to a vast array of frameworks (e.g., person-situation), group processes and group phenomena that can be applied for understanding and explaining aspects of the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Conclusions: This concluding article demonstrates the relevance of group dynamics for understanding and explaining events associated with the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. The numerous perspectives derived from research on groups provide an expansive understanding of the events of the insurrection. These diverse perspectives also provide a foundation for recommendations for how to forestall similar events in the future as well as to mitigate the political polarization that contributed to those events. Highlights and Implications• Perspectives and principles from the group dynamics field are very relevant for understanding and explaining events associated with the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.• Numerous perspectives and principles from the study of groups (e.g., group polarization, shared social reality) can, in combination, contribute to a comprehension of events associated with the insurrection.• Based on the strength of multiple perspectives from group dynamics, a variety of recommendations can be generated for averting adverse aspects of events similar to the insurrection.

Conspiracy mentality, subclinical paranoia, and political conservatism are associated with perceived status threat

“…As instances of racial violence [53] and major political upheaval [52] continue to bear the mark of elevated status threat concerns, understanding its psychological correlates represents an issue of increasing importance. Our findings may have implications for policies that attempt to reduce the impact of sources that spread exaggerated or false information regarding status threat.…”

“…Understanding the nuances of the relationship between conspiracy mentality and status threat is of the upmost importance insofar as conspiracy theories in their most extreme form represent markers of social division and-when fueled by concerns of threat from out-group members-may foment animosity towards specific (and often marginalized) groups [16]. Indeed, conspiracy theories that highlight status threat may be especially compelling as impetuses towards (potentially violent) action against either political elites or racial minorities, as evidenced by the messaging that emerged during the riot at the United States Capitol on January 6 th of 2021 [52] and in the language used in the published manifesto of the Buffalo, New York shooter in 2022 ("I am simply a White man seeking to protect and serve my community, my people, my culture, and my race") [53].…”

Bridging Echo Chambers? Understanding Political Partisanship through Semantic Network Analysis

“…Each of the aforementioned events occurred in the context of a historically partisan environment (Amlani & Algara, 2021), but the Capitol Riots specifically were an unprecedented act of partisanship expressed through violence (Kydd, 2021). The Capitol Riots were rooted in unfounded beliefs about a "stolen election," and accordingly, the events at the Capitol are a distillation of the dangers of self-reinforcing and unchallenged beliefs and their catastrophic real-world implications (Hinsz & Jackson, 2022).…”

Group dynamics and the U.S. Capitol insurrection: An introduction to the special issue.

“…In addition to the principles and theoretical perspectives covered in articles just previewed, there are numerous others in the field of group dynamics that can aid our understanding of the insurrection and similar events. Our concluding article (Hinsz & Jackson, 2022) offers a brief review of those additional perspectives and integrate them with a summary of the key takeaway points promoted in the special issue as a whole. We argue that by employing a diversity of group-based perspectives and principles can result in a better understanding of the insurrection and other events of that nature.…”