ABSTRACT
The group, as a phenomenon, became the subject of scientific interest and research with the birth of social psychology in the late 1800s and early 1900s. With this research on the group concept as his starting point, Kurt Lewin developed the force field analysis, which is a strategic tool for mapping restraining forces and driving forces. If one focuses on removing or reducing one of the restraining forces instead, generally sufficient energy is provided by the driving forces to make the desired change. Our driving force to belong, to feel safe, and to achieve status may assert itself in a group such that we become aggressive, fixated on self-preservation, conformist, and sectarian. We may bully and exclude others as our ruthlessness and cruelty increase. Because groups, as well as individuals, require ongoing exchanges with the outside world to test their beliefs, a closed group is at risk of developing a rigid and uncompromising world view.
