Group Polarization / 群体极化

Group polarization is the pattern where people who already lean in one direction become more extreme after interacting mostly with each other. 132.争论与说服：我们为什么吵架，怎么才算赢？ links the idea to Cass Sunstein and uses online groups to show how more extreme expressions can reset the local norm.

In the source, polarization is partly social positioning. If other members express stronger versions of the shared view, a person may feel pushed to move as well in order to remain loyal, visible, or safe inside the group.

Key Claims

• Shared leanings can intensify through repeated in-group argument.
• Extreme members can shift what counts as the group center.
• Identity pressure can make moderation socially costly.
• Group polarization explains why information cocoons can become more radical over time without any single central controller.

Connections

• Information Cocoon / 信息茧房 - media setting that supports polarization.
• Tribal Truth / 部落真相 - group-belief mechanism that makes polarization emotionally sticky.
• Constructive Dissent / 建设性异议 - needed corrective when groups start losing outside evidence.
• Cass Sunstein - scholar associated with the group-polarization framing used by the source.