12 Angry Men Essay - 576 individuals in North America, and consequently allowed slavery to flourish in North America for over 255 years. This is just one example of how mindsets influence groupthink. J. Dan Rothwell, author of “In Mixed Company,” defines a mindset as “psychological and cognitive predispositions to view the world in a particular way” (p. 216). Using the term mindset does not always imply a negative connotation. Whether positive or negative, the power of a mindset is undeniable. In the case of “12 Angry Men,” the jury members demonstrated an inflexible mindset that impaired their ability to openly consider the trial they had just witnessed. When asked about their individual mindsets, members often responded with a closed mind, willing only to receive evidence of their confirmation bias. When mindsets go unchallenged, polarization and groupthink increase. ...

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