Is it human nature to disagree just for the sake of disagreeing?

[Mr Green]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQFKtI6gn9Y .

[pearljammer10]

This is a thread my girlfriend and I should read together.

[Cman]

I don't know.
People often *agree* for the sake of agreeing. I'd say that's more characteristic of human nature.
Ever heard of "groupthink" that's the idea that groups tend to very quickly agree on a certain course of action, even if its the wrong course of action, and that group members choose consensus rather than disagreement, bc it feels better to be in agreement rather than discord.

So, I guess in answer to the OP I think a strong case could be made for a definitive "NO".

[Roy H.]

I don't know.
People often *agree* for the sake of agreeing. I'd say that's more characteristic of human nature.
Ever heard of "groupthink" that's the idea that groups tend to very quickly agree on a certain course of action, even if its the wrong course of action, and that group members choose consensus rather than disagreement, bc it feels better to be in agreement rather than discord.

So, I guess in answer to the OP I think a strong case could be made for a definitive "NO".

Yeah, there have been studies done on this regarding jury trials.  If 11 people are in favor of a verdict -- even one the 12th person disagrees with -- the 12th person will give in an overwhelming amount of the time.

However, if even one other person stands beside them, then the original dissenter can stand up to peer pressure.

[ACF]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQFKtI6gn9Y .

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hnTmBjk-M0c

Already got us covered 

[Mr Green]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQFKtI6gn9Y .

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hnTmBjk-M0c

Already got us covered 

"No you don't" 

TP and a high five!

[CelticConcourse]

Doubtful.  In the marathon bombing thread, there were folks defending the terrorists and blaming American society.

Hey, I was disagreeing just for the sake of it!

[CelticConcourse]

I don't know.
People often *agree* for the sake of agreeing. I'd say that's more characteristic of human nature.
Ever heard of "groupthink" that's the idea that groups tend to very quickly agree on a certain course of action, even if its the wrong course of action, and that group members choose consensus rather than disagreement, bc it feels better to be in agreement rather than discord.

So, I guess in answer to the OP I think a strong case could be made for a definitive "NO".

Yeah, there have been studies done on this regarding jury trials.  If 11 people are in favor of a verdict -- even one the 12th person disagrees with -- the 12th person will give in an overwhelming amount of the time.

However, if even one other person stands beside them, then the original dissenter can stand up to peer pressure.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050083/

[Roy H.]

I don't know.
People often *agree* for the sake of agreeing. I'd say that's more characteristic of human nature.
Ever heard of "groupthink" that's the idea that groups tend to very quickly agree on a certain course of action, even if its the wrong course of action, and that group members choose consensus rather than disagreement, bc it feels better to be in agreement rather than discord.

So, I guess in answer to the OP I think a strong case could be made for a definitive "NO".

Yeah, there have been studies done on this regarding jury trials.  If 11 people are in favor of a verdict -- even one the 12th person disagrees with -- the 12th person will give in an overwhelming amount of the time.

However, if even one other person stands beside them, then the original dissenter can stand up to peer pressure.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050083/

Ha.  Yes, while being one of the great movies of all-time, this doesn't happen much in real life.

[Lucky17]

I don't know.
People often *agree* for the sake of agreeing. I'd say that's more characteristic of human nature.
Ever heard of "groupthink" that's the idea that groups tend to very quickly agree on a certain course of action, even if its the wrong course of action, and that group members choose consensus rather than disagreement, bc it feels better to be in agreement rather than discord.

So, I guess in answer to the OP I think a strong case could be made for a definitive "NO".

Yeah, there have been studies done on this regarding jury trials.  If 11 people are in favor of a verdict -- even one the 12th person disagrees with -- the 12th person will give in an overwhelming amount of the time.

However, if even one other person stands beside them, then the original dissenter can stand up to peer pressure.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050083/

Ha.  Yes, while being one of the great movies of all-time, this doesn't happen much in real life.

At least CC referenced the Fonda version, not the God-awful remake starring Tony Danza.

[LooseCannon]

Example: Terrorism is bad.

I'm sure you can find someone who would be willing to claim that the Boston Tea Party was a "good" act of terrorism.

[fairweatherfan]

I don't know.
People often *agree* for the sake of agreeing. I'd say that's more characteristic of human nature.
Ever heard of "groupthink" that's the idea that groups tend to very quickly agree on a certain course of action, even if its the wrong course of action, and that group members choose consensus rather than disagreement, bc it feels better to be in agreement rather than discord.

So, I guess in answer to the OP I think a strong case could be made for a definitive "NO".

Yeah, there have been studies done on this regarding jury trials.  If 11 people are in favor of a verdict -- even one the 12th person disagrees with -- the 12th person will give in an overwhelming amount of the time.

However, if even one other person stands beside them, then the original dissenter can stand up to peer pressure.

Not even stand beside them - even if that second person disagrees with the group for a totally different reason, it works just as well.  Disagreement with the group is more important than agreement with the dissenter.

Interestingly when groups do all agree on something, they tend to wind up with more extreme viewpoints than the individual members started with.