Under the Influence: The Destructive Effects of Group Dynamics

Everyone belongs to one or more groups, be they unions, religions, political parties, support groups, or any number of others. As members we gain much from these associations, but at what price? In Under the Influence , Goldhammer probes the relationship between individual members and the collective, providing fresh insights into such destructive characteristics as mind control, propaganda, hypnotic influence, loss of identity, and much more. This exciting work explores innovative ways to harness the creative potential of groups without sacrificing personal autonomy. In our modern, often impersonal culture, we need to better understand our ‘urge to merge’ and the destructive control that can be exercised when the group becomes more important than its individual members.