The 1957 film 12 Angry Men is a powerful depiction of one man’s strong leadership and negotiation skills clashing with a diverse, goal-oriented group. This movie acts an excellent example and teacher for good small group communication. Many aspects of this film can pertain to realistic group communication, and three prominent subjects in the film are leadership, negotiation, and diversity in groups and teams.
The film tells the story of twelve jurors who must come to a conviction on a murder case. Before the jurors leave to come to a verdict, the judge reminds them that their decision must be unanimous or a hung jury will be the result. The judge also tells them that if anyone has any “reasonable doubt,” he should vote “not guilty.” When they congregate, the jury votes almost immediately. Every juror votes “guilty” except for Juror 8, Henry Fonda. The film shows
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In a class group, some people may be working for an A, while others might not care at all about the class. Even though this can be very frustrating, it is a fact of small group communication. 12 Angry Men displays this reality, but the movie also shows that a team can rise about these different motives. A group can still do an excellent job on a task even if some people may not very dedicated to the group or goal.
People may also conform to a group’s norm, as the jury did in the film. This can be a good or bad thing, but it can also lead to closemindedness and even hostility when people become too attached to their respective views. There are times where one must take a stand for the sake of ethics in a group, but there must be a balance between open-mindedness and standing up for what is right (Lumsden, Lumsden, and Wiethoff 42). It can be difficult to decide to conform or deviate, but if people remember to be selflessness, like Fonda was, unhealthy environments can be
From the beginning of the film, juror number eight displayed his interest in the case, not his personal engagements. His opening part by the window foreshadowed his deep concern for the defendant, an eighteen year-old Hispanic gentleman accused of stabbing his father in a fit of rage. While most of the jurors were ready to leave so as not to further interrupt their schedules, Henry Fonda was willing to give as much time as it would take to analyze this seemingly simple decision.
People can have a very significant effect on how a group behaves. Reason being that a person can influence another person to have a different point of view than that of which they may have previously had. A person can sway someone the other way making them see things in a way that they have never seen it. In the story Twelve Angry Men this can be showed by how each juror had a totally different verdict to begin with. But, as the facts were coming to the table and all the accusations being proved right or wrong everyones views started to change. All it takes is one person to have a different opinion then there's a conflict just because that person believes in something else.
12 Angry Men is about 12 men who are the jury for an 18 year old accused of murder. The judge states in the opening scene that it is a premeditated murder in the 1st degree, if found guilty will automatically receive the death penalty. The 18 year old male is accused of killing his father with a “one of a kind” switch blade, in their home. The prosecutors have several eye witness testimonies, and all of the evidence that they could need to convict the 18 year old male. In the movie it takes place on the hottest day of the year in New York City. There are 12 jurors whom are to decide if the evidence is enough to convict the teen of murder in the first degree. In the first initial vote it is 11-1. The only way that the jurors could turn in their votes was if there was unanimous vote either guilty or not guilty among the 12 jurors. As the movie progressed the jurors ended up changing their minds as new evidence was brought to their attention by simple facts that were overlooked by the police and prosecutors in the initial investigation. Tempers were raised, and words flew, there was prejudice and laziness of a few of the jurors that affected the amount of time it took to go over all of the eye witness testimonies and evidence. The eye witness testimonies ended up being proven wrong and some of the evidence was thrown out because it was put there under false pretense.
This movie goes to show how such crucial facts and minuet evidence if not processed fully and clearly can change the outcome in such a big way. In this jury you have 12 men from all different walks of life, 12 different times, and 12 different personalities. Who have an obligation to come to one conclusion and that's whether or not the young man on trial is guilty of murdering his father or is innocent beyond a reasonable doubt. Under much frustration and lack of patience these 12 men began to get unruly and unfocused. Throughout this distraction key terms get misused, facts get turned around and more importantly emotions start to cross making it hard for these men to produce a verdict.
As I planed to take this class, I thought this course would be like all other general education courses. I believed that it would be of little use to me. However, after attending the first class, my view has changed completely. I applied each and every theory to my life.
Guilty or not guilty? This the key question during the murder trial of a young man accused of fatally stabbing his father. The play 12 Angry Men, by Reginald Rose, introduces to the audience twelve members of a jury made up of contrasting men from various backgrounds. One of the most critical elements of the play is how the personalities and experiences of these men influence their initial majority vote of guilty. Three of the most influential members include juror #3, juror #10, and juror #11. Their past experiences and personal bias determine their thoughts and opinions on the case. Therefore, how a person feels inside is reflected in his/her thoughts, opinions, and behavior.
...a unanimous vote of not guilty. The final scene takes place signifying the "adjourning stage". Two of the jurors, eight and three exchange the only character names mentioned during the film. The entire process of groupthink occurs in multiple ways that display its symptoms on individual behavior, emotions, and personal filters. These symptoms adversity affected the productivity throughout the juror's debate. In all, all twelve men came to an agreement but displayed group social psychological aspects.
In the film 12 Angry Men, a group of twelve jurors are deciding the fate of a young boy accused of murdering his father. Throughout the juries dilleration, one man exhibits all of the qualities of leadership. This man is juror number 8 played by Henry Fonda. Fonda not only exhibits the the 10 qualities of a leader but he uses these qualities to lead the entire jury to a vote of not guilty (Fonda & Lumet, 1957).
People's bias and predispositions can affect their opinion of different circumstances and different people. This is very evident throughout the play. After the first group vote and juror 8 votes not guilty, a discussion ensues. It is there that the jurors' personal prejudices come out and we the readers/viewers are able to see how this has influenced and shaped what they think.
After a lot of convincing and redirecting the group was able to get through the juror. One finial unanimous vote was done and the 3rd juror who had been difficult the entire case was force to set aside his prejudice thoughts and vote not guilty. It was at the point the jurors had finally agreed on a verdict for the murder case. The Closing phase was definitely more obvious in the movie than any other stage.
My analysis is on the film The Goonies. While I 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 Goonies portray many different theories and aspects of small group communication.
The film 12 Angry Men depicts the challenge faced by a jury as they deliberate the charges brought against an 18-year-old boy for the first-degree murder of his father. Their task is to come to an impartial verdict, based on the testimony that was heard in court. The group went through the case over and over while personal prejudices, personality differences, and tension mounted as the process evolved. While the scorching hot weather conditions and personal affairs to tend to led the juror to make quick and rash decisions, one juror convinced them the fate of the 18 year old was more important than everyone’s problems an convinced them that they could not be sure he was guilty. Juror three took the most convincing. After fighting till he
People can be dangerous, show a poor attitude but, people don’t know their own personal feeling. People can make mistake and make guilty for something they never did. In purpose, it is a crash course in those passage of the Constitution that promise defends a fair trial and the presumption of innocent. We hear neither prosecutor nor defense attorney, and learn of the evidence only second hand, as the jurors debate it. Most courtroom movies feel it necessary to end with a clear cut direct.
They must come to a unanimous decision. Jurors discuss their points of view and Juror #8 questions the two witnesses that supposedly heard and seen the young man killing his father. After heated deliberation, the vote was unanimous and the young Latino man was declared not guilty. Organizational Behavior Exhibited in the Movie 12 Angry Men Juror #8 did not subscribe to the idea of groupthink.
Realizing that a group can become a high performance team is important. Accomplishing this goal is invaluable, advantageous and profitable. Once able to operate from a group to the high performing team is a great step into preparation into the big business world. Leaders and members must also realize not only how to accomplish this but that some problems will and can arise from different demographic characteristics and cultural diversity. That is if one is in such a group, which the probability would be quite high.