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1) Analyze how the jurors’ personality traits influenced the group decision process. In so doing, identify the most critical moments which can support your argument. Moreover, identify the main roles within the jury, and describe possible correlations between jurors’ personality traits and such roles
In the 1957 classic film “12 Angry Men”, group dynamics are portrayed through a jury deliberation. On “the hottest day of the year, without air-condition”, 12 jurors have the duty to decide whether a young boy from the slums murdered his father and should be executed. To render a verdict, they must unanimously vote that the boy did or did not kill his father beyond all reasonable doubt.
The jurors have in common that they are middle aged to older white men. However, it soon becomes apparent that this is where the similarities end. Their differing backgrounds, education, jobs, personal experiences and personalities mean that they come to the table with very different skills, beliefs and values to form a multi-faceted team.
In fact, it is this dynamic on which the trial-by-jury system relies. At its best, a jury – like any team working together to produce a specified result – will draw on the different personalities, approaches and strengths of each individual team member to achieve a creative abrasion which, in turn, will allow them to produce the “right” (and fair) verdict.
When the jury first convenes, eleven of the 12 jurors are convinced of the boy’s guilt (e.g. juror 3 – “this is an open and shut case”):
• A minority of the jurors actually seem convinced of the boy’s guilt by virtue of the testimony given in court.
• Others are basing their decision on their own deeply rooted prejudices – again others on personal experiences.
• Some of them, like, for example, juror 2, don’t appear to have a rational and well fundamental reason to say the boy is guilty.
• A number of the jurors appear to just be...