4/26/2019 12 Angry Men - Google Docs

Social Psychology Analysis: 

12 Angry Men  
 
Your task is to apply concepts from Social Psychology to the American classic 12 Angry Men . There are many ways these 
applications can be done, but it is essential to be sure to watch the film so you can provide examples to illustrate each concept. You can 
refer to the characters by juror number. Your applications should be accurate and insightful using specific film sequences / scenes as 
evidence. You may work with a partner to complete this work.  
 
The list of characters should prove helpful as you watch: 
 
Juror #1 (Foreman): A high school football coach. He takes his responsibility as foreman seriously and tries to keep order in 
the jury room. 
 
Juror #2: A meek and timid bank teller. He is unsure what to make of the case and is concerned with what others think of  
him. As a result, he often wavers on his opinion about the case. 
 
Juror #3: A businessman with a hot temper. He has a strained relationship with his son. He believes that the defendant is  
guilty. 
 
Juror #4: A stockbroker. He is eloquent and articulate. He thinks the defendant is probably guilty, but he tries to look at the  
case coherently considering the facts presented. He is appalled by some of the behavior of the other jurors,  
especially Jurors 3, 7, and 10. 
 
Juror #5: A healthcare worker. He is from the slums and feels a connection with the defendant’s circumstances. He also feels  
A disconnect with the other jurors and becomes increasingly disgusted at the bigotry of Juror 10. 
 
Juror #6: A house painter. He is not well educated, but he is generally patient and respectful of what the others have to say. 
 
Juror #7: A salesman. He shows little concern for the defendant. He is eager to complete his jury assignment so he can get to  
a Yankees game. He is somewhat impatient and can be rude. He often makes wise-cracks. 
 
Juror #8: An architect named Davis. He is somewhat reserved, but quite thoughtful and articulate. He is the first to raise  
questions about the defendant’s guilt. He becomes close with Juror 9 throughout the film. 
 
Juror #9: An older man named McCardle. He feels a bit feeble and unvalued, but sees jury duty as an opprotunity to be 
important. He is the first to side with Juror 8 and grows increasingly friendly with him throughout the film.  
 
Juror #10: A carwash owner and former Nation of Islam member. He is narrow-minded and bigoted. He is quite rude, often  
yelling and interrupting the others. Ultimately, he is shunned because of his insensitive and racially  
inflammatory comments. 
 
Juror #11: An immigrant watchmaker. He believes in the American Dream. He is observant of events around him and wants  
to see that justice is done. 
 
Juror #12: An ad executive that at times seems uninterested in the case. He is easily swayed by the opinions of the others and  
often changes his position. 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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4/26/2019 12 Angry Men - Google Docs

 
TASK: Respond to the following. Use scene examples to illustrate the concept being sure to identify relevant juror(s). 
 
 
1. Persuasion is critical in the jury’s efforts to reach a verdict. Provide an example of each of the following. 
• Central Route Persuasion: 
• Peripheral Route Persuasion: 
 
2. Conformity is a critical theme in the film. Provide an example of each of the following. 
• Normative Social Influence: 
• Informational Social Influence: 
 
3. Various jurors’ views about the defendant’s innocence or guilt change throughout the deliberation. Provide an example of a juror  
that you think experiences Cognitive Dissonance and how it is rectified.  
 
4. A jury is a group given the task of reaching a verdict. The are critical concepts related to group-based decision making. For each  
concept, identify the Juror you think is most representative of it with a brief explanation of why. 
• Social Loafing: 
• Groupthink:  
 
5. A theme that is explored and wrestled with throughout the film is Prejudice. 2 related concepts are Just World Phenomenon and  
Scapegoat Theory. Provide an example from the film of where each concept is evident. 
• Just World Phenomenon 
• Scapegoat Theory 
 
6. There is an exchange that takes place between Jurors 3 & 8. During a heated moment, Juror 3 threatens to kill Juror 8. Consider this  
exchange and an earlier statement that Juror 3 made that the defendant must be guilty because he was heard telling his father 
he was going to kill him. Explain how the concepts of Attribution and Self-Serving Bias can be used to help us understand 
these exchanges. 
• Attribution: 
• Self-Serving Bias: 
 
7. The Frustration-Aggression Principle provides insight into factors that cause aggression. Consider the various times the  
deliberations become heated and hostile. What concepts help us to understand some of the factors that contributed to these  
moments? 
 
8. Consider the relationships that form between the various members of the jury. Jurors 8 & 9 perhaps form the closest bond among  
the jury members. How can their relationship best be understood within the context of social psychology? In other words,  
what concepts best explain the connection they form? 
 
9. Research in Social Psychology offers insight into why individuals might help others. Consider the following concepts: Social  
Exchange Theory, Reciprocity Norm, and Social Responsibility Norm. Which concept is most applicable to the work a  
jury does? Briefly explain your thinking. 
 
10. What role does Minority Influence play in the jury’s final decision? Why do you think Juror 8 is able to get the other jury  
members to agree with his position? In other words, what qualities do you think makes Juror 8 effective in influencing the  
other jurors?  
 
11. Consider the jury featured in 12 Angry Men. Which concept do you think is most applicable in terms of the jury reaching its final  
verdict in the case? Briefly explain your thinking. 
• Conformity (Asch): 
• Obedience (Milgram): 
• Power of the Situation (Zimbardo):   
 
 

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4/26/2019 12 Angry Men - Google Docs

12. Despite the challenges and disagreements. The jury was able to reach a unanimous decision. How does the following concept help  
us to understand why the jury was able to determine a verdict. 
• Superordinate Goals: 

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