“Twelve Angry Men” Small Group Dynamics
The Jurors Character Traits
Juror #1
“Foreman”
A high-school assistant head coach, doggedly concerned to keep the proceedings formal and maintain authority; easily frustrated
and sensitive when someone objects to his control; inadequate for the job as foreman, not a natural leader and over-shadowed
by Juror # 8's natural leadership.
Juror #12Juror #2
“Ad Man”“Meek Man”
Well-dressed, smooth-talking business ad man withA wimpy, balding bank clerk/teller, easily persuaded,
thick black glasses; doodles cereal box slogan and meek, hesitant, goes along with the majority,
packaging ideas for "Rice Pops"; superficial, eagerly offers cough drops to other men
easily-swayed, and easy-going; vacillating, lacks deepduring tense times of argument; better
convictions or belief system; uses advertising talk atmemory than # 4 about film title
one point: "run this idea up the flagpole and see if
anybody salutes it"
Juror #11Juror #3
“Immigrant”“Angry Father”
A watchmaker, speaks with a heavy accent, Runs a messenger service (the "Beck and Call" Company),
of German-European descent, a recent refugeea bullying, rude and husky man, extremely opinionated
and immigrant; expresses reverence and respectand biased, completely intolerant, forceful and loud-mouthed
for American democracy, its system of justice, temperamental and vengeful; estrangement from his own
and the infallibility of the Law.teenaged son causes him to be hateful and hostile
toward all young people (and the defendant); arrogant,
quick-angered, quick-to-convict, and defiant until the end.
Juror #10Juror #4
“Bitter Man” “Man of Sophistication”
A garage owner, who simmers with anger, Well-educated, smug and conceited, well-dressed stockbroker,
bitterness, racist bigotry; nasty, repellent, intolerant, presumably wealthy; studious, methodical, possesses an incredible
reactionary and accusative; segregates the world into recall and grasp of the facts of the case; common-sensical,
'us' and 'them'; needs the support of others to reinforce dispassionate, cool-headed and rational, yet stuffy and prim; often
his manicrants.displays a stern glare; treats the case like a puzzle to be deductively
solved rather than as a case that may send the defendant to death; claims that he never sweats.
Juror #9Juror #5
“Old Man” “Slum Man”
Eldest man in group, white-haired, thin,Naive, insecure, frightened, reserved; grew up in a poor Jewish urban
soft-spoken, resigned to death but has aneighborhood and the case resurrected in his mind that slum-dwelling and
perceptive, fair-minded; named McCardleupbringing; a guilty vote would distance him from his past; nicknamed
"Baltimore" by Juror # 7 because of his support of the Orioles.
Juror #8Juror #6
“Architect”“Honest, but Slow Guy”
An architect, instigates a thoughtful reconsideration A typical "working man," dull-witted, experiences difficulty in making of the case against the accused; symbolically clad in up his own mind, a follower; probably a manual laborer or painter; white; a liberal-minded, patient truth-and-justice respectful of older juror and willing to back up his words with fists
seeker who uses soft-spoken, calm logical reasoning;
balanced, decent, courageous, well-spoken and
concerned; considered a do-gooder (who is just
wasting others' time) by some of the prejudiced Juror #7
jurors; named Davis.“Salesman”
Clownish, impatient salesman, flashy dresser, gum-chewing, obsessed baseball fan who wants to leave as soon as possible to attend evening game; throws wadded up paper balls at the fan; uses baseball metaphors and references throughout all his statements (he tells the foreman to "stay in there and pitch"); lacks complete human concern for the defendant and for the immigrant juror; extroverted; keeps up amusing banter and even impersonates James Cagney at one point; votes with the majority.
Paper Guidelines!!!!!!!!
Must be at least one page typed, double spaced, twelve point font.
Examine “Twelve Angry Men” jurors and analyze the following:
- In general all groups experience three phase:
- introductory phase - awkward “getting to know you”
- conflict/confrontation phase – personalities, beliefs values emerge
- accommodation/cooperation/cohesion phase – let’s work it out together
Explore, briefly how the plot of this play (each Act) corresponds to this formula.
- How do they go about solving the problem?
- What role does each character play in the group?
Identify the negative roles of some jurors: nitpicker, eager beaver, fence sitter, wisecracker, superior being, dominator, clown, whiner.
Identify the positive roles of some jurors: impartial listener, clarifier, leader, includer, moderator…
- How do their perceptions and values impacted their behavior and impact the group?
- How might a consensus have been reached in an easier fashion?
Somewhere in your analysis make sure to tie in at least five of the following terms: discussion, cooperation, competition, cohesion, bombard, polarize, apathetic, status quo, monopolize, constructive conflict, disruptive conflict, avoidance, groupthink and accommodation AND how they did or did not impact the small group dynamics of “Twelve Angry Men.”
Reference Sheet For Terms
Negative Roles
Nitpicker – want everything spelled out and will squabble until they get what they want.
Eager beaver- want to offer a solution whether they have given it any thought or not.
Fence sitter – don’t dare take a position until they are sure what the “key” people will say.
Wisecracker – group clown, people who seek attention in any way possible.
Superior being – look down their noses at the whole business.
Dominator – don’t know when to quit talking
Clown – always joking around never on task
Whiner – complains about everything preventing others from being on task.
Positive Roles
Listener – allow others to speak
Clarifier – helps to make connections and round out ideas
Leader – guides the group in the positive way
Includer – makes sure everyone has a voice
Moderator – regulates so that the group runs smoothly