Group polarization

Biological Parallel

Chimpanzee border patrols become progressively more aggressive as group members feed off each other's arousal signals—a coalitional amplification where initial caution escalates to lethal raiding. Jane Goodall documented this ritualized escalation in Gombe chimps, where groups talked themselves into violence through reciprocal displays. Polarization evolved through positive feedback in social signaling: displaying commitment to the group's position increases individual status, creating runaway dynamics that push groups toward extremes.