Analysis Of Human Action And Interaction In The Knife Thrower

When dangerous or particularly uncomfortable situations arise those affected by them are compelled to group together and this  can be seen clearly in Part time indian through not only juniors making of friends at Reardan but also by his grandmothers wake when, through a tough

Our analysis is on the film The Italian Job. While we view the movie and determine the various norms, behaviors, roles and interaction between group members, as well as individuals the examination within the realm of film can present many of the same components. Thus, our group selected this movie to analyze based on its formation of a cohesive problem-solving group full of unforgettable characters. The Italian Job portray many different theories and aspects of small group communication.

To make a choice is easy, but to make the right one can sometimes be very difficult. To speak one’s mind and stand up to your opinion can also be tough, especially when in a large crowd, but sometimes this is the most important time for doing so. In Steven Millhauser’s short story, “The Knife Thrower”, the ambiguity of the narrator’s view on the knife thrower’s act is really drawn out and exposed in the spotlight, very unlike the knife thrower’s act itself which is very mystical and sort of hidden in the shadows.

This is modeled by the fact that people being in groups, causes them to act and think differently than they would have if they had been alone. In her essay, Tavris uses many examples of this: In the case of Kitty Genovese or the late Rodney King who was beat to death by police officers. People have a tendency to act differently in groups, others suffer due to people not wanting to “rock the boat” or they do not want to “embarrass themselves or others if they are wrong” (19). Tavris offers a solution to the way people act in groups, “By understanding the impulse to diffuse responsibility, perhaps as individuals we will be more likely to act. By understanding the social pressures that reward group-think, loyalty and obedience, we can foster those that reward whistle blowing and moral courage. And, as a society, we can reinforce the belief that they also sing who stand and watch” (19). If civilization can solve the dilemma of people acting differently when they are in groups with others, the world could be a much improved place.

These individuals are so lonely that they become one with each other. “We are alone here under the earth. It is a fearful word, alone. The laws say that none among men may be alone, ever and at any time, for this is the great transgression and the root of all evil. But we have broken many laws. And now there is nothing here save our one body”. The line above reveal that in their society sin results in an ultimate

1. As the story opens a throng is gathered.  Who are these people?  Where and why are they gathered?

Social influences shape every person's practices, judgments, and beliefs. (Asch 306) In "Opinions and Social Pressure", Solomon Asch examines how individuals tend to conform to a group or majority. He does this by explaining the results of his experiment that he devised to observe to what extent conformity occurs. In her essay titled "Group Minds", Doris Lessing claims that as a society we have enough knowledge about conformity to do something about it, yet we choose not to. Although Doris Lessing and Solomon Asch both suggest that people desire independence yet yield to conformity, Asch's experiment adds specificity to Lessing's claims. Lessing speaks generally about groups and the effect they have on conformity, whereas Asch's experiment

The Symbolic Convergence Theory was developed by University of Minnesota Professor Ernest Bormann in 1972, along with his colleagues John Cragan and Donald Shields. It emerged from studies conducted in small-group communication, and is a message-centred theory that explores symbolic facts in communication (Shields, 2008). This theory was also based upon previous work from social psychologist Robert Bales, who established the concept of small-group fantasies and shared symbolic themes (Vaughan, 2009, 944). The University of Minnesota researchers saw a theme emerge in group communication of a shared symbolic consciousness through common meanings, values, emotions and experiences (Shields, 2008). Based on these empirical findings, as well as the work of Robert Bales, Bormann established a theory of rhetorical analysis called The Symbolic Convergence Theory (Vaughan, 2009, 944). The Symbolic Convergence Theory is a three-faceted theory. Firstly, it handles the discovery of these recurring communicative forms and patterns. It then describes the factors and events in a group that explain the emergence of a group consciousness. This addresses the ‘how’ of the theory. And finally, the question of ‘why’. Why do these patterns emerge in group communication; why do people share fantasies (Bormann, 1996, p.88 ). This theory works upon the assumptions that reality is created by communication, as well as that individuals can share symbolic meanings and realities (Vaughan, 2008).

An eye opening experiment performed in the 1950s called, The Asch Conformity Experiment, conducted by Solomon Asch. In the experiment there was only one subject and the other participants knew that it was an experiment, the group was asked a question and the group obviously answered it wrong, acting fully sure of themselves. Yet, the single person who knew it was wrong said nothing, suggesting that humans fear confrontation, so they automatically conform to the group’s ideals. This idea relates to the book, Night, by Elie Wiesel because the German soldiers stranded by and confirmed even when many knew that their actions were wrong. They did not want to be different due to their own fear, this demonstrates the human nature to conform instead

Since the beginning of time social constrictions have always retained a firm grasp on the ideas and actions of humanity. While it remains a formidable foe, still some choose to fight back against the norm. This never-ending war is responsible for major advancements in the social order, but not every story is so successful. In Kate Chopin’s “The Awakening”, Edna Pontellier finds herself fighting this very battle that, although begins with a positive outlook, ultimately ends in her demise.

As human beings, each person on earth possesses a desire to belong. In order to meet this need, one must find a way to fit in with a group. Yet somehow, once a group has been joined, humans tend to take on the ideas and opinions of the group without analyzing the situation for themselves. Doris Lessing, in her essay, “Group Minds”, proposes the idea that humans spend their whole life going along with the group because they fail to analyze the reasons behind their actions. While Lessing’s idea is valid, no one has yet successfully implemented her plan.

The definition of “insider” for this paper will be the socially accepted and people of wealth, whereas the definition of “outsider” would be the socially unaccepted, the people who are of lower class and Jewish people. In this story, there are people who fall in the “insiders” category and people who fall in the “outsiders” category and some who fall in both. I will first discuss the people who fall into the “insiders” category which would be people of nobility, the villagers and Brandes. Next, I will discuss the people who fall into the “outsiders” category which would be Aaron the Jewish man, Margaret

The boy later claimed he had been at the movies while his father was murdered, but couldn’t remember the name of the movies or who was in them. A woman living across the street also testified that she saw the boy kill his father through the windows of a passing elevated train. Finally, the boy has a previous record of offenses, including a violent crime with a knife. The remaining chapters will include detailed scene examination of groupthink factors that combine to make this interpersonal phenomenon.

When analyzing social patterns and behaviors, is there a significant difference between the psychology of an individual and groups? Collective and individual behavior is surprisingly similar, and depending on the circumstances, identical. In Charles Siebert essay “An Elephant Crackup,” he validates to readers, through social elephant narratives and herd mentality theory, that similarly to an individual elephant all elephants behave in similar ways. Furthermore, Sherry Turkle in selections from her work Alone Together accounts

One of the facets of living within civilized society is that there are certain norms and social conventions that people must follow. Frequently, there is a large effort on the part of government, financial, and social institutions to keep people doing most of the same thing as others going to work, driving cars, buying homes, etc. Despite the fact that people engage in these efforts individually, the simple fact that they are all attempting to do the same thing, in much the same way, is indicative of the fact that they are engaged in collective behavior. THESIS: Those who are able to overcome collective behavior and allow for their individuality to determine their own outcomes exemplify the best of human nature.