Why Do People Join Groups That Thrive on Emotional Chaos?

When group goals override personal well-being

Humans are inherently social animals, and the sense of belonging to a group is crucial for our health and well-being. Not all groups have our best interests at heart, but it can be hard to spot group dysfunction when you’re living inside of it.

Some groups prioritize their own growth and cohesion over the well-being of their members.

While we naturally want to align our motivations with group goals, some groups can exploit this desire, redirecting our need for connection and belonging toward their own, often harmful, ends.

The problem is that some groups distort our way of thinking and make people within the group more anxious and less able to function independently. This can lead to over-reliance on the group for emotional support and a distrust of any solutions or approaches that come from outside the group.

The allure of paranoia

Negative emotions evolved to keep us safe. They alert our brains to potential problems or threats in the environment. Because we evolved as part of groups, most people are very sensitive and adaptive to the way people think and feel within groups. Groups create their own rules and norms and ways of thinking about the world.

Social cognition is an evolved survival mechanism that originally helped our ancestors stay alert to potential threats by understanding and learning from groups. However, this capacity for social understanding can be manipulated, especially in online groups.

Some groups encourage maladaptive ways of thinking about the world, distorting our natural ability to understand other people and groups and reinterpreting the world in line with the group’s distorted interpretation of reality.

One straightforward example of how groups can distort the perception of reality is by promoting paranoid thinking (also referred to as paranoid social cognition).

Paranoid thinking involves three key elements:

• Suspicion without evidence: Individuals develop baseless beliefs that others are trying to deceive, exploit, or harm them.
• Doubts about loyalty: A persistent, unjustified concern over the trustworthiness of friends, associates, or group members.
• Reluctance to confide: A deep fear that sharing personal information will be used against them.

Amplification online

People tend to self-select into groups that mirror their fears and suspicions, and once inside, they can quickly become immersed in a feedback loop that reinforces and intensifies these dysfunctional and anxiety-inducing ways of thinking.

Online environments can quickly amplify paranoid thinking. Both individuals and algorithms in online social networks work together to intensify whatever thoughts and emotions users bring to these platforms. People often search online for answers, ideas, and communities, bringing preconceptions that can lead them to unknowingly self-select into destructive groups.

Once inside, they engage in constant information production—posting group-affirming messages, memes, and ideas that reinforce their belonging while contributing to the ideas of the group and subtly shifting the narrative of the group over time.

Groups that encourage dysfunction

Healthy groups build up people’s resilience to deal with the stresses and strains of life. Destructive groups break down individuals’ coping strategies, so they struggle to function outside of the group.

Group members become trapped in a cycle where paranoid ideas are continuously confirmed, making the group feel like a haven from a frightening world.

This dynamic serves the group’s purpose by

• Strengthening in-group cohesion: The shared belief in external threats bonds members tightly together, creating a sense of unity against a common enemy.
• Silencing dissent: Anyone who questions the group’s beliefs is seen as a potential traitor, further isolating members from outside perspectives.

At the extreme end, we find cults, groups defined by extremely destructive behaviors that serve the leader or the group at the expense of individual well-being.

Groups that don't meet the definition of a cult can still erode members' independence, competence, and ability to manage their own stress. These groups can be corrosive to mental health and autonomy, subtly manipulating emotions and thoughts in ways that make it difficult for members to recognize the harm being done.

Groupthink Essential Reads

The Challenges of Groupthink in Remote Work

What's Driving Growth in "Groupthink"?

While the individuals within these groups suffer, the group itself persists. The paranoia and dysfunction serve as tools to maintain control, ensure loyalty, and prevent members from leaving.

Breaking the cycle

A broad social and friendship network can counteract these disruptions. Experiencing healthy group dynamics and having trusted role models helps individuals recognize dysfunction, build resilience, and learn how to maintain independence within a group.

A common recommendation for those trapped in disordered or maladaptive thinking online is to "touch grass"—a way of saying, step outside the online echo chamber. Get some fresh air and fresh perspective. The phrase “touch grass” is often used sarcastically, but it contains good advice.

Taking in a fresh perspective from a different environment or group can be powerful. Taking a break from the relentless online content treadmill can help to change the way we approach problems and reconsider the intentions of groups we are involved with.

Understanding why we’re drawn to self-preserving, yet anxiety-inducing, groups can help us avoid them. Being part of a social group, or cultivating social connection is good for us. Destructive groups often bypass rational decision-making, pushing members toward hasty conclusions.

The best antidote is to slow down, engage in genuine conversations with people from different groups, and remember that, sometimes, simply taking a break and “touching grass” is essential.