Someone help me out here......Movie I saw as a kid, likely from the 80's. A hip teacher befriends a small group of misfits or something like that, and slowly starts to be their group leader in which he begins to "help" them have confidence but is actually creating group think. It's high school so the acts may have at first started off as sticking up for the little guy who was being bullied. Anyways, the teacher created a chant and the teens had to raise their right hand, sort of like a pledge, or maybe had a special handshake, which was also designed to make the group feel special. The teacher selects one of the teens to be the leader but when something happens to that teen, not sure if he bowed out or was kicked out, but then others are eager to take the leadership role. Towards the end of the movie the teacher had basically used the teens in an experiment to show how easy it is to manipulate people into committing acts that they would normally not, but because they have a charismatic leader whose approval they want and getting swept into the energy of the group think, they do. Anyone remember this movie?
3
Be part of the movement!
Welcome to the community for those who value free speech, evidence and civil discourse.Create your free account
6 comments
Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.The Wave should be mandatory viewing for everyone before high school. ABC outdid themselves, and yes it shows how populist leaders exploit "specialness" and "Inclusiveness" to promote hatred and division. And awesome understanding and insight into how ordinary smart German people could not only stand by, but engage with a charismatic leader to assist in atrocities that they felt could be justified. If only more people Knew History, not the modern re-telling of history ... But if you're looking seek out books with accurate spelling and good grammar. ... It predates the millennial re-write
The_Q
Level 7
July 13, 2020
1
I was thinking the same thing. I was 8 yrs old when I saw it and it left quite the impression. I suspect it'd be even more impactful on older kids who grasp the concepts better than an 8 yr. old. Those of old enough to remember or those who have left countries with government oppresion for the freedoms of another country, are likely shaking their heads in disbelief about what's going on in various parts of the world right now. You're right about the books, too. I've been buying used books online to avoid rewrites as much as possible.
govols
Level 8
July 13, 2020
4
So, it’s an eighties made for TV movie showing how Nazis used group think to influence entire populations but of course this movie never made any connection to how it also was used by the Bolsheviks who killed a hundred million more people. Directed by Alex Grasshoff. Every single time.
Thank you so much for finding this. I was watching the short documentaries and interiviews of the Evergreen State College and this old movie was brought to mind while I witnessed how the teaching staff folded like cards and the students got pulled into the frenzy.
You got me, at first I thought you were talking about Dead Poets Society but that wasn’t high school. I would like to say that it goes beyond just getting approval from a leader. People in groups will do horrendous things they would never do alone.
Andyman
Level 8
July 13, 2020
4
Exactly! I was watching the short documentaries made about what went down at the Everygreen State College and observing the teaching staff made that movie flash before my memory's eye. Andyman figured it out and it's called The Wave.
Be part of the movement!
Welcome to the community for those who value free speech, evidence and civil discourse.Create your free account
Share this post
Categories
Slug does not evaluate or guarantee the accuracy of any content. Read full disclaimer.