People are highly social beings and what individuals think, feel, and do is really affected by groups they identify with. Since their childhood, people know how to act, and they observe their family members, schoolmates, and friends. The values, beliefs, habits and expectations are formed over time by these observations. Group behavior is the actions of individuals when inside a group than when they are in solitude. Collective thinking is the process where groupthink forms and ideas and assumptions develop among the groups and determine how members within the groups make sense of the surrounding world.

The sense of identity and meaning is offered to people by being a part of a group. People tend to define themselves on the basis of their relationships and social positions. The group also helps individuals to answer the question of identity. Such a feeling of belonging provides emotional solace and psychological security. By identifying with a group of people, individuals will not feel isolated. This emotional security makes people conform to group norms, unconsciously at times.

Conformity is one of the strongest factors in groups. Conformity happens when people change their behavior, views or attitudes to be in line with those of others. Conformity can be as a result of the perception that the group has superior information. They can also comply as they are afraid of being rejected or fighting. In situations where people in their personal beliefs conflict, they can be outwardly in agreement in order not to be conspicuous. This need to blend in may supersede judgment.

Groupthink may make it easy to make decisions. People base their conclusions on group consensus rather than examining each of the issues separately. On the one hand, this is the saving of mental effort, but, on the other hand, it decreases critical thinking. When it is a general consensus that the group is right, bad ideas cannot be questioned. With time, such thought processes are accepted as true since many people share such ideas.

The nature of responsibility evoked by groups is also influenced by groups. When people make decisions alone, they tend to be personally responsible about the decisions. Responsibility may get distributed among members in groups. Individuals might be less accountable since they think there would be people who would come to their rescue. Such decentralization of responsibility is capable of minimizing individual action.

Feelings are contagious within groups. It is human nature to reflect the emotional bodies of other people. The level of emotion is enhanced when a large number of individuals are experiencing the same kind of emotion like excitement or anger. Due to emotional contagion, crowds can be really excitement-filled or agitated.

Behavior of a group is not negative in itself. Teams offer help, collaboration and purpose. Families nurture children. The societies take care of weak individuals. Teams have goals which they complete tasks which individuals would have failed to do alone. Human societies operate through collective efforts.

Leadership is potent in the development of collective thinking. Leaders determine the values that are stressed, the behaviors that are supported and the voices that are listened to. Leadership that is responsible promotes mental ethical thinking and dialogue. Fear and loyalty can be used unethically by leaders.

A collective cognition is a potent one since people are connected by nature. Knowledge of this influence will enable individuals to strike a balance between belonging and thinking independently.