What is groupthink and how to avoid it?
Groupthink can occur any time you involve a group of people in decision-making. This can have disastrous consequences for the group. The best way to avoid this phenomenon is to make yourself aware of it (studying the above examples will help.)
What are the effects of groupthink on decision making?
This tendency to seek consensus above all else also means that group members may not adequately assess the potential risks and benefits of a decision. Groupthink also tends to lead group members to perceive the group as inherently moral or right. Stereotyped beliefs about other groups can contribute to this biased sense of rightness.
Does conformity cause groupthink?
Conformity can sometimes cause groupthink, but it isn't always the motivating factor. While groupthink can generate consensus, it is by definition a negative phenomenon that results in faulty or uninformed thinking and decision-making. Some of the problems it can cause include:
What are the characteristics of a victim of groupthink?
Victims of groupthink share an illusion of unanimity – that the majority view and judgments of the group are unanimous. 8. Mind Guards Victims of groupthink may appoint themselves to protect the group and the group leader from information that may be problematic or contradictory to the group’s views, decisions, or cohesiveness.
Why might groupthink have negative consequences?
Welcoming differences of opinion leads to stronger decision-making. Groupthink—the tendency of groups to make decisions that preserve the status quo rather than take dissenting opinions into account—can be toxic to teams and organizations. It can stifle innovation and make employees feel pressured to conform.
Are there positives to groupthink?
In some group situations, Groupthink can have its benefits in that it often facilitates decision-making. Often, large groups of people make decision-making more difficult or slow down the process, but Groupthink can help projects find completion quickly and efficiently.
Which is a negative aspect of groupthink?
Therefore, the impact of groupthink includes the following: Bad decisions due to lack of opposition. Lack of creativity. Overconfidence in groupthink negatively impacts the profitability of an organization. Optimal solutions to problems may be overlooked.
Why groupthink is a problem?
Groupthink is particularly dangerous in political situations where decisions are made through collective deliberation, and no single member of the group has enough knowledge to make an informed decision. Members of the group may feel pressure to conform to the consensus or pressure other members to conform.
Is groupthink negative or positive?
While groupthink can generate consensus, it is by definition a negative phenomenon that results in faulty or uninformed thinking and decision-making. Some of the problems it can cause include: Blindness to potentially negative outcomes. Failure to listen to people with dissenting opinions.
What famous example shows the negative effects of groupthink?
Two well-known examples of Groupthink in action are the Challenger Space Shuttle disaster and the Bay of Pigs invasion. Engineers of the space shuttle knew about some faulty parts months before takeoff, but they did not want negative press so they pushed ahead with the launch anyway.
What is groupthink and why is it bad?
According to psychologist Irving Janis, groupthink is “a deterioration of mental efficiency, reality testing, and moral judgment that results from in-group pressures.” Group members often suffer overconfidence and hold an unquestioned belief in the group's competence and morality.
Why is groupthink avoided?
Groupthink is often regarded with a negative connotation because it can lead to the loss of individual creativity, uniqueness, and independent thinking - the cornerstone of any thriving business.
What is the opposite of groupthink?
The opposite of groupthink is lack of cohesion. Groupthink occurs when a social group attends too much to social cohesion, resulting in loss of effectiveness in group tasks.
What is another word for groupthink?
herd mentalityIt's also known as herd mentality or groupthink, where we assume an action is appropriate because others are performing it.
What is an example of groupthink?
Groupthink and Isolation It is destructive to effective thinking. Some examples of groupthink include the following: A small country that is isolated from others and that is made up of people who want to believe that the country is a major world superpower.
What are 4 characteristics of groupthink?
Characteristics of Groupthink Rationalization of decisions to minimize objections. Belief in the absolute goodness of the group. Intense dislike of outsiders – stereotyped and misleading portrayals of outside members and those who have left the group.
What are the benefits of group decision making?
Group decision making has the advantage of drawing from the experiences and perspectives of a larger number of individuals. More ideas might be generated by a group than by an individual working alone. Hence, a group may have the potential to be more creative and lead to more effective decisions.
How can groupthink be prevented?
How to Prevent GroupthinkRecruit a Diverse Team. In lean organizations, each person is critically important. ... Organize Your Space. ... Make Time for Independent Evaluation. ... Encourage Personal and Professional Development to Avoid Groupthink. ... Celebrate Diverse Perspectives.
What are the features of group think?
Characteristics of GroupthinkInvulnerability. The 'ingroup' tend to find an excessive sense of optimism and illusion of invulnerability. ... Rationale. When a decision is agreed upon, that course of action is followed. ... Morality. ... Distrust and Dislike of others outside the group. ... Pressure. ... Self-censorship. ... Illusion of Unanimity.
What causes groupthink?
Groups that prioritize their group identity and behave coldly toward “outsiders” may be more likely to fall victim to groupthink. Organizations in...
Why can groupthink be dangerous?
Even in minor cases, groupthink triggers decisions that aren’t ideal or that ignore critical information. In highly consequential domains—like pol...
Can groupthink ever be positive?
Groupthink, by definition, results in a decision that is irrational or dangerous. It is possible, however, for teams to make decisions harmoniously...
Are groupthink and conformity the same thing?
Groupthink and conformity are related but distinct concepts. Groupthink specifically refers to a process of decision-making; it can be motivated by...
What are some major examples of groupthink?
Risky or disastrous military maneuvers, such as the escalation of the Vietnam War or the invasion of Iraq, are commonly cited as instances of group...
What are the symptoms of groupthink?
Individual members of the group self-censoring —especially if they fear being shunned or derided for speaking their mind—is one potential sign th...
What’s the best way to avoid groupthink?
Since groupthink often occurs because group members fear disagreeing with the leader , it can be beneficial for the leader to temporarily step ba...
Why is it good to allow dissent?
Healthy dissent has been linked to more creative thinking and ultimately greater innovation within organizations . Asking one person to deliberate...
Does diversity guard against groupthink?
Diversity—both demographic diversity and diversity of thought— has been shown to reduce the possibility of groupthink . Group members’ different ba...
What Is Groupthink?
Groupthink is a psychological phenomenon in which people strive for consensus within a group. In many cases, people will set aside their own personal beliefs or adopt the opinion of the rest of the group. The term was first used in 1972 by social psychologist Irving L. Janis.
What is groupthink psychology?
Groupthink is a psychological phenomenon in which people strive for consensus within a group. In many cases, people will set aside their own personal beliefs or adopt the opinion of the rest of the group. The term was first used in 1972 by social psychologist Irving L. Janis.
How do you know if you have groupthink?
Janis identified a number of different "symptoms" that indicate groupthink. 1 . Illusions of unanimity lead members to believe that everyone is in agreement and feels the same way.
How does group consensus help?
Group consensus can allow groups to make decisions, complete tasks, and finish projects quickly and efficiently—but even the most harmonious groups can benefit from some challenges. 4 Finding ways to reduce groupthink can improve decision-making and assure amicable relationships within the group.
Why do people engage in groupthink?
In many cases, people end up engaging in groupthink when they fear that their objections might disrupt the harmony of the group or suspect that their ideas might cause other members to reject them .
What is conformity in psychology?
On the other hand, conformity is a process in which people change their own actions so they can fit in with a specific group. Conformity can sometimes cause groupthink, but it isn't always the motivating factor.
How to prevent groupthink?
Initially, the leader of the group should avoid stating their opinions or preferences when assigning tasks. Give people time to come up with their own ideas first.
What are the consequences of groupthink?
In highly consequential domains—like politics or the military—groupthink can have much worse consequences, leading groups to ignore ethics or morals, prioritize one specific goal while ignoring countless collateral consequences, or, at worst, instigate death and destruction.
How to recognize groupthink?
To recognize groupthink, it's useful to identify the situations in which it's most likely to occur. When groups feel threatened—either physically or through threats to their identity — they may develop a strong “us versus them” mentality.
How are groupthink and conformity related?
Groupthink and conformity are related but distinct concepts. Groupthink specifically refers to a process of decision-making; it can be motivated by a desire to conform, but isn’t always. Conformity, on the other hand, pertains to individuals who (intentionally or unintentionally) shift their behaviors, appearances, or beliefs to sync up to those of the group.
What is groupthink in business?
While it is often invoked at the level of geopolitics or within business organizations, groupthink can also refer to subtler processes of social or ideological conformity, such as participating in bullying or rationalizing a poor decision being made by one's friends.
Why is groupthink beneficial?
Since groupthink often occurs because group members fear disagreeing with the leader, it can be beneficial for the leader to temporarily step back and allow members to debate the issue themselves. One member of the team can be appointed as “devil’s advocate,” who will argue against the consensus to highlight potential flaws.
How do you know if you are a group in groupthink?
Individual members of the group self-censoring —especially if they fear being shunned or derided for speaking their mind —is one potential sign that the group may engage in groupthink. If those who do dissent are pressured to recant or conform to the majority view, it may similarly signal groupthink. Groups that actively deride “outsiders” may be more likely to fall prey.
How to minimize the risk of groupthink?
To minimize the risk, it's critical to allow enough time for issues to be fully discussed, and for as many group members as possible to share their thoughts. When dissent is encouraged, groupthink is less likely to occur. Learning about common cognitive biases, as well as how to identify them, may also reduce the likelihood of groupthink.
What is groupthink in psychology?
Groupthink is a phenomenon that occurs when a group of individuals reaches a consensus without critical reasoning or evaluation of the consequences or alternatives. Groupthink is based on a common desire not to upset the balance of a group of people.
What Is Groupthink?
Groupthink is a phenomenon that occurs when a group of individuals reaches a consensus without critical reasoning or evaluation of the consequences or alternatives. Groupthink is based on a common desire not to upset the balance of a group of people.
Why is groupthink important in business?
In a business setting, groupthink can cause employees and supervisors to overlook potential problems in the pursuit of consensus thinking. Because individual critical thinking is de-emphasized or frowned upon, employees may self-censor and not suggest alternatives for fear of upsetting the status quo.
What is groupthink in organizations?
Some organizations have no clear rules upon which to make decisions. Groupthink occurs when a party ignores logical alternatives and makes irrational decisions.
What events were groupthink failures?
Other events that may be possible groupthink-involved failures include the Bay of Pigs invasion, Watergate, and the escalation of the Vietnam War.
What is collectively rationalizing?
Collectively, the group rationalizes away any possible negative outcomes. Members are convinced their cause is right and just, so they ignore any moral quandaries of their decisions. The group body tends to ignore the suggestions of anyone outside the group.
What happens if a dissenter attempts to introduce a rational argument?
Any dissenters in the group who may attempt to introduce a rational argument are pressured to come around to the consensus and may even be censored.
What is groupthink in psychology?
The meaning of groupthink can be defined as being a psychological phenomenon that happens within a group of people when the desire for harmony and conformity of the group is more important than each individual’s thoughts, ideas and goals which then results in a dysfunctional, often irrational decision-making outcome .
What is groupthink based on?
Groupthink is based on collectivism, which means that the harmony and values of the group are more important than individual values, principles, thoughts and ideas.
Why are groups so resistant to new ideas?
Since the group values harmony above individual goals, ideas and thoughts, the group might be surprisingly resistant to new ideas, even though those new ideas can be good and lead to future success and prosperity.
Why do people think less critically?
However, caution is advised since people generally think less critically due to the perceived safety in numbers and because individual needs, ideas and thoughts are not always reciprocated in a group.
Is group thinking dangerous?
Groupthink mentality does have its advantages, but can be dangerous as well. Since the group is not always right and doesn’t take into account individual differences between people.
Can groupthink leave a group?
This means that at it’s worst, groupthink can potentially leave to the exclusion of other groups and individuals who are not currently residing inside the group.
Is groupthink good or bad?
Groupthink, like anything in life, has both advantages and disadvantages. However, the dangers of groupthink are substantial.
What is Groupthink Theory?
Groupthink happens when decision makers insist on cohesiveness at the loss of outside viewpoints or opinions. This can lead to the inability to deliberate crucial problems facing an organization, the loss of unique voices within the team or the pursuit of solutions that may be ineffective for the issues they face.
When teams go wrong, what is groupthink?
However, it comes with a caveat. Groupthink is a phenomenon that occurs when team members work together too well, letting their desire to conform interfere with their ability to make sound decisions. When that happens, the results can be ...
Why was groupthink a factor in the Great Recession?
While groupthink wasn’t the only reason for the Great Recession, it certainly was a contributing factor. Despite mounting evidence to the contrary, many industry experts believed that housing prices would rise indefinitely. Furthermore, groupthink led banks to repeatedly issue bad loans. The assumption was, if others kept buying financial derivatives, the banks’ behavior could continue without consequences. Anyone who realized this behavior was problematic and spoke out could easily be dismissed because the banks engaged in their practice so collectively. Their actions eventually helped drive the housing market to collapse.
What is an overly cohesive group?
An overly cohesive group. Group members tend to like and agree with one another. New information that might challenge the comradery is suppressed.
How many problematic behaviors are there in Inc.?
When these factors occur, explained Inc ., they translate into seven problematic behaviors:
Why do groups not develop contingency plans?
Groups do not develop contingency plans because they do not spend time thinking about the flaws in their choices.
Do people in groups self-censor?
You find that individuals in your group tend to self-censor.
What are the causes of groupthink?
Two primary causes of groupthink are high levels of cohesion and excessive conformity pressures. When groups exhibit high levels of social cohesion, members may be reluctant to criticize or question another group member’s ideas or suggestions for fear that it would damage the relationship. When group members have a high level of task cohesion, they may feel invincible and not critically evaluate ideas. High levels of cohesion may actually lessen conformity pressures since group members who identify strongly with the group’s members and mission may not feel a need to question the decisions or suggestions made by others. For those who aren’t blinded by the high levels of cohesion, internal conformity pressures may still lead them to withhold criticism of an idea because the norm is to defer to decisions made by organization leaders or a majority of group members. External conformity pressures because of impending reward or punishment, time pressures, or an aggressive leader are also factors that can lead to groupthink.
How do dynamics affect a group?
Any time a group of people come together, new dynamics are put into place that differ from the dynamics present in our typical dyadic interactions. The impressions we form about other people’s likeability and the way we think about a group’s purpose are affected by the climate within a group that is created by all members. Groups also develop norms, and new group members are socialized into a group’s climate and norms just as we are socialized into larger social and cultural norms in our everyday life. The pressure to conform to norms becomes more powerful in group situations, and some groups take advantage of these forces with positive and negative results. Last, the potential for productive and destructive conflict increases as multiple individuals come together to accomplish a task or achieve a purpose. This section explores the dynamics mentioned previously in order to better prepare you for future group interactions.
How does conformity pressure affect a group?
Conformity pressure can also stem from external forces when the whole group stands to receive a reward or punishment based on its performance, which ties back to the small group characteristic of interdependence. Although these pressures may seem negative, they also have positive results. Groups that exert an appropriate and ethical amount of conformity pressure typically have higher levels of group cohesion, which as we learned leads to increased satisfaction with group membership, better relationships, and better task performance. Groups with a strong but healthy level of conformity also project a strong group image to those outside the group, which can raise the group’s profile or reputation (Hargie, 2011). Pressures toward conformity, of course, can go too far, as is evidenced in tragic stories of people driven to suicide because they felt they couldn’t live up to the conformity pressure of their group and people injured or killed enduring hazing rituals that take expectations for group conformity to unethical and criminal extremes.
Why do people resist social norms?
While some people may feel a need for social acceptance that leads them to accept a norm or rule with minimal conformity pressure, others may actively resist because they have a valid disagreement or because they have an aggressive or argumentative personality (Ellis & Fisher, 1994). Such personality traits are examples of internal pressures that operate within the individual group member and act as a self-governing mechanism. When group members discipline themselves and monitor their own behavior, groups need not invest in as many external mechanisms to promote conformity. Deviating from the group’s rules and norms that a member internalized during socialization can lead to self-imposed feelings of guilt or shame that can then initiate corrective behaviors and discourage the member from going against the group.
What does equity mean in a group?
Aside from individual participation, group members also like to feel as if participation is managed equally within the group and that appropriate turn taking is used.
Why are group rules important?
Group rules and norms provide members with a sense of predictability that helps reduce uncertainty and increase a sense of security for one’s place within the group. They also guide group members’ involvement with the group, help create a shared social reality, and allow the group to function in particular ways without having actual people constantly educating, monitoring, and then correcting member behaviors (Hargie, 2011). Of course, the degree to which this is successful depends on the buy-in from group members.
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Self-Censorship
- We’ve talked about how members who deal with groupthink are often afraid to speak their minds. This happens because the team members prefer to stick with the group consensus instead of affecting its uniformity. While self-censorship isn’t necessarily bad in some instances, it can lead …
Overconfidence and Fake Sensation of Invulnerability
- One of the most common symptoms of a group is the fake sensation of invulnerability. While being positive to some extent can be good, being overly confident can be quite prejudicial for the business and its profitability. When all members of a group believe that they’re “invulnerable,” they end up having excessive optimism, which can lead to promoting and taking abnormal risks.
Illusion of Unanimity and Irrationality
- Since most of the members of the group think the same way and are unable to voice their opinions, the whole team ends up sharing an illusion of unanimity when it’s time to take important decisions. This thought uniformity can lead to irrational decisions, making them ignore negative feedback or warnings from other members of the organizations, for instance.
Bad Decisions
- Ultimately, all of the elements mentioned above lead to bad decisions since all teammates stick with what the rest of the group thinks. This lack of opposition ends up negatively affecting each of the team members and the company’s profitability if the problems aren’t addressed soon.
Example of Groupthink
- Let us consider an example in a business setting. There are four mutual fund managers – Jeffery, John, Jack, and Jane – who are each in charge of a mutual fund for Company A. The four fund managers meet bi-weekly to discuss investing strategies and their top picksof the week. In addition, each of the four individuals trusts each other’s judgment. During one of their bi-weekly …
The Impact of Groupthink
- Groupthink, in essence, values harmony and coherence over accurate analysis and critical thinking of individual members. It creates a group where individual members of the group are unable to express their own thoughts and concern, and unquestioningly follow the word of the leader. For example, think of a corporate meeting where the members of the ...
Real-World Example
- The following example demonstrates how destructive groupthink is by accepting the ideas of a group without critically questioning it. The attack on Pearl Harbor is an excellent example of groupthink. Despite the interception of Japanese messages, US naval officers based in Hawaii did not seriously take warnings from Washington about a potential offensive attack somewhere in th…
Other Resources
- Thank you for reading CFI’s guide on Groupthink. To learn more and advance your career, see the following resources: 1. Leading By Example 2. Interpersonal Skills 3. Negotiation Tactics 4. Office Politics
Causes
Signs
- In Janis’s first book, he cited eight symptoms of groupthink to look out for in order to avoid the phenomena from occurring (Janis, 1972). 1. Invulnerability: When groups begin to believe their decisions and actions are untouchable or that the group is invincible, they ignore warnings or signs of danger that run contrary to their consensus. 2. Rationale: Groups that engage in groupt…
Negative Impacts
- Poor decisions: Potentially the largest overall impact groupthink can have on decision-making groups is that they are more prone to making poor decisions. The effects of groupthink can be especiall...
- Self-censorship: Individuals within the group affected by groupthink may not be as effective as possible when helping make decisions because they may hold back their potentially helpful o…
- Poor decisions: Potentially the largest overall impact groupthink can have on decision-making groups is that they are more prone to making poor decisions. The effects of groupthink can be especiall...
- Self-censorship: Individuals within the group affected by groupthink may not be as effective as possible when helping make decisions because they may hold back their potentially helpful opinions i...
- Inefficient problem solving: Because groups who experience the effects of groupthink fail to consider alternative perspectives, they can sometimes fail to consider ways to solve problems that devia...
- Harmful stereotypes can develop: Groups may begin to believe that their group is inherently …
Can Groupthink Ever Be A Good Thing?
- Groupthink is generally considered a negative phenomenon. Groups generally can benefit from hearing a diverse set of perspectives and information and failing to do so can result in suboptimal decisions being made. However, it is true that groups who engage in groupthink can make decisions quickly (although they may not be the best decision possible...
Groupthink in Real-Life Scenarios
- The social and political consequences of groupthink may be far-reaching, and history has many examples of major blunders that have been the result of decisions reached in this way. Many case scenarios have been analyzed such as the Invasion of Iraq (Badie, 2010; Psychology Today Editors, 2021), the attempt to rescue the American prisoners the Vietnam war in the Son Tay rai…
Opposition to The Theory
- Despite a lot of support for the theory over the years, it has received some pushback as well. Sally Fuller and Ramon Aldag argue that being in a cohesive group has been proven to be effective (Aldag & Fuller, 1993; Fuller S.R. & Aldag R.J., 1998). They also argue that Janis’s theory is not empirically supported and can be inconsistent. Robert Baron reflects on the many years of resea…
How to Avoid Groupthink
- To avoid groupthink, leaders and group members alike can take a variety of steps to help prevent the phenomenon from occurring. Some potential solutions are below. 1. Leaders or impactful group members should create a safe space for discussion. They should be open to opposition to the group consensus, accept criticism, and encourage new ideas regardless of a person’s statu…