ABSTRACT
Churches are made up of groups of people, and groups behave in ways that are distinct from how individuals behave on their own. Human beings are inherently social, relational beings. We are not immune to the influence of others. It is normal for groups of people to develop a shared identity, and to influence the thoughts and behaviour of their members. Social processes can influence the church towards virtuous ends; they can also move us towards a collective outworking of sin. Social psychology has been studying the social aspect of human life for a number of decades, and many insights are applicable to the church.
