12 Angry Men Character Evaluations Essay

12 Angry Men

1.   Your text discusses 5 characteristics of “effective work groups”.   Choose 2 of the characteristics and discuss how the film “work group” exemplified “effective” or “NOT effective”.

Appropriate Environment
I believe the work group environment in the film was NOT effective.   Several factors led me to this conclusion and it began the moment the jurors were locked in the room and deteriorated rapidly.   The temperature in the smoke filled room was intolerable and the only fan in the room wasn't functioning which creates an environment that is conducive to impatience and arguing, rather than openness.

Cohesiveness
I believe the film portrayed cohesiveness in the group as NOT effective.   The task at hand was of little importance to a few of the members, particularly jurors 7 (Jack Warden) and 12 (Robert Weber), and extremely important to others such as jurors 8 (Henry Fonda) and 11 (George Voskovec).   They also had no choice in participation, as they were serving on a jury and locked in a room.   They also referred to each other by number, not knowing each others names.   The many prejudices made it difficult to share opinions freely and made it difficult for ease of reception.   For example, when juror 10 (Ed Beagly) expressed his thoughts about the boys disadvantaged life in the slums, juror 5 (Jack Klugman) becomes defensive and it creates quite a disturbance in the group.   Another example is when the two jurors were playing tic tac toe and obviously not listening to juror 8 and giving him the respect of their attention.

3.   Discuss the self centered roles of at least 2 group members.
Juror #3 (Lee J. Cobb)
Aggressor & Blocker
It is obvious that his strained relationship with son is the the heart of his prejudice, and preoccupies his thoughts throughout the deliberations as he's seen several times looking at a picture of the two of them.   His feelings do not allow him to be open or...