Journal 9

I think there are many factors which influence conflict dynamics at all every levels of conflict. I think that one of the most influential factors on any conflict level is group influence or group-think. No matter what anyone says, everyone cares at least a little bit about what other people think of them. In order for people to feel good about themselves, they have to feel like other people think well of them. This is why average individuals who may have normal or even strong moral values can get on a slippery slope of group-think from needing approval from others and end up committing horrible acts of atrocity in order to fit in or be a part of a group. We went over at the beginning of the semester that a person partly defines themselves by the groups they are a part of, and they have to have good feelings associated with their group if they want to have good sense of self. If having good group moral means demeaning or hurting another group, then (as we can see throughout history) that group will go to that level of evil, justifying it all the way.