The Governmental Process, adapted from the Essay by David Truman

The term interest group refers to any group that, on the basis of one or more shared attitudes, makes certain claims upon other groups in the society for the establishment, maintenance, or enhancement of forms of behavior that are implied by the shared attitudes…. He also states that from the interaction in groups arises certain common habits of response, which are called norms or shared attitudes. What this means is that groups form because the progenitors share one or more beliefs, and that when individuals interact with these groups, the shared attitudes of that group become the attitude of the individual participating. This group interaction gives the individual a frame of reference to evaluate for himself other events and behaviors. What Truman is saying in his theory is not a new concept, in fact, it is just the age-old ‘group mentality’ theory. When someone becomes involved with a particular group, he assimilates himself into their collective. Truman takes this theory one...