Are independent thinkers just another tribe?

NB: Rudy's Organic Cafe has asked that most people order breakfast or lunch for this group booking, so please come prepared to order something on the day :).

Many of us believe we think for ourselves. But how independent are our opinions?

Humans are deeply social. Jonathan Haidt suggests we are naturally tribal, while psychologists Matthew Hornsey and Jolanda Jetten argue that we balance two competing needs: to belong and to be unique. One way we may satisfy both is by joining groups that make us feel different from everyone else.
But what about people who reject ready-made worldviews and prefer to judge each issue on its own merits? Are they genuinely independent thinkers, or simply members of a less obvious tribe?
In Solomon Asch’s famous conformity experiments, around three-quarters of participants conformed to the group at least once, while about one-quarter consistently resisted. The experiments don’t tell us how many independent thinkers exist, but they do reveal just how powerful social influence can be.
Each person will be asked to share their views on the following questions:

1. Are we truly independent thinkers, or do we naturally gravitate towards tribes that share or shape our beliefs?
2. Can we pick and choose our beliefs without falling into groupthink?
3. Does thinking independently make us more willing to voice an unpopular opinion, even among other independent thinkers?