12 Angry Men Analysis

What this movie tell you about sense-making?

The process whereby the decision is reached illustrates a situation where a minority transforms the opinion of a majority by exerting persuasive tactics and demonstrating effective leadership. The situational and behavioral elements of majority group processes were evident from the onset of the film.

Explain the different dimensions of influence in the movie.

• Conformity was apparent upon the initial hand vote; we can infer that informational and normative influences played a role.

• A freeze frame in the middle of the hand vote revealed six men with their hands up, while the others looked around.

• According to the theory of informational influence, those who were less certain of the not-guilty position would have seen the original six raise their hands and believed that “truth lies in numbers.”

What links between thinking and learning are suggested in the movie?

• Under majority influence, the decision making process showed symptoms of groupthink

• Despite the strong pressures of the majority, Fonda’s presentation of unique interpretations of the facts eventually stimulated divergent thinking in the majority members.

• Fonda’s unwavering desire to discuss the issue led to the first majority-minority shift, when the Old Man sided with him solely because he stood by his position

How are assumptions dealt with?

In Twelve Angry Men, the jurors are all locked into the jury room in order to arrive at a verdict. Many of these men enter the room with assumptions before any discussion begins. For, when the foreman calls for an initial vote, all but one vote "Guilty." When some hear that one has not voted for the defendant's conviction, they are angered and express what they assume are foregone conclusions.

How is Ancona’s 4 CAP model portrayed in the movie?

Ancona’s 4 CAP model signifies- Sense-making, Relating, Visioning, and Inventing. In the movie all 4 aspects were clearly visible. Sense-making was...