Social groups vary in size, purpose, and goals. While some groups form spontaneously, such as a group of friends, others form for a specific purpose. A common group function is that of making decisions to which the group is bound.
             This paper will examine the group decision-making process and the role of personal conformity leading to the decisions made. It will also discuss the impact of consensus-based decisions on a group as a whole, on individuals within a group, and on the unintended negative impacts of group decisions on people outside the group.
             Group decision-making has up to four general phases. The first phase is problem identification. Once identified, the group assesses candidate solutions. Ideally, this phase should include interactive solicitation of different viewpoints among group members. If all members are in agreement, the decision is unanimous, and the group goes forward with the decision. If not, the decision is most often made and implemented in accordance with previously agreed to rules. The fourth step, if necessary, is to restore group harmony between the majority and the dissenters.
             Personal conformity plays a vital role in leading groups to consensus-based decisions. In chapter-7 we learn that a difference between a social grouping and a crowd of people, who share no common interest, is a set of shared norms. Group norms tell us what we "should" or "ought" to be thinking, feeling, or doing if we want to fit in with a particular group. It follows that group norms influence the decision-making process.
             Conformity is group consensus and can involve changing personal attitudes, opinions, or behaviors to match the attitudes, opinions, or behaviors of the group.
             Group conformity can be informational-believing in the intrinsic worth of the group's collective opinion-or normative-conformity because of group pressure rather than personal feelings. Obedience is a third kind of conformit...