Groupthink

Groupthink Defined

"The inability of a group to realistically appraise alternative courses of action"

oversight

Groupthink can be avoided through a variety of strategies, including requiring control and

action

Groupthink occurs when groups place group harmony above motivation to assess plans of

Evaluation of Groupthink PROS

Heuristic

Conditions that Might Promote Groupthink

High Cohesiveness Structural factors Group Insulation No Impartial Leadership No Decision Making Procedures Homogeneity of group members. Internal and external stress

Groupthink founder

Irving Janis (1972)

Preventing Groupthink (video)

Open climate Avoid insulation Assign critical evaluators Avoid being directive

Symptoms of Groupthink

Overestimation of the Group Illusions of Invulnerability Belief in the Inherent Morality of the Group Closed-Mindedness Collective Rationalizations Out-Group Stereotypes Pressures Toward Uniformity Self-Censorship Pressures on Dissenters Self-Appointed Mindguards Illusion of Unanimity

Preventing Groupthink (text)

Require Oversight and Control of Group Decision Making Embrace Whistle-Blowing within the Group Allow for Conscious Objections Balance Consensus and Majority Rule

Evaluation of Groupthink CONS

Scope (i.e. Applies only to groups under stress)

Cohesiveness

The extent to which group members are willing to work together

inherent morality of the group

When a decision to go to war is made because the U.S. perceives its way of life to be the best way, the decision makers may be suffering a symptom of Groupthink known as belief in the

Group Insulation

a group's ability to be unaffected by the outside world

illusion of invulnerability

a group's belief that they are special enough to overcome any obstacles or setbacks; invincible

Groupthink

a way of group deliberation that minimizes conflict and emphasizes, the need for unanimity

Illusion of Unanimity

belief that silence equals agreement

pressure on dissenters

direct influ on group members who provide thought contrary to the group's

lack of decisions-making procedures

failure to provide norms for solving group issues

Lack of impartial leadership

group members are led by people who have a personal interest in the outcome

Affiliative constraints

group members hold their input rather than risk rejection

self- censorship

group members minimize personal doubts and conterarguments, second guess their own ideas

Conscientious objectors

group members who refuse to particpate in the decision making process because it would violate their conscience

Homogeneity

group similarity

homogeneous

groups are most susceptible to Groupthink

overestimation of the group

incorrect belief that the group is more than it is

Self Appointed mindgaurds

indiv who protect the group from adverse info

Pressure towards uniformity

occurs when group members go along to get along

internal and external stress

pressure exerted on the group by issues and events both inside and outside of the group

Whistle-blowing

process in which indiv report unethical or illegal behaviors or practices to others

Task oriented groups

set of individuals whose main goal is to work toward completing jobs assigned to them

Problem solving Groups

set of individuals whose main task is to make decisions and provide policy recommendations

Collective rationalization

situations in which group members ignore warnings about their decisions

out group stereotypes

stereotyped perceptions of group enemies of competitors

closed-minded

when a group ignores outside influence on the group

belief in the inherent morality of the group

when the group perceives itself to be good so they believe that their decision making process must be good