Groupthink

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Groupthink
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Groupthink

• A way of deliberating that groups use when their
  desire for unanimity overrides their motivation
  to assess all available plans of action.

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In other words..

• The need for everyone to agree outweighs good
  sense.

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Janis Examined

• The preparedness policies of the US Navy at Pearl
  Harbor in 1941
• The decision to pursue the North Korean Army on
  its own territory by Eisenhower
• The decision by Kennedy to invade Cuba and the
  Bay of Pigs shortly after Castro established a
  communist govt.
• The decision to continue the Vietnam War by
  Johnson
• The Watergate cover-up
• We could add the Space Shuttle Challenger, Abu
  Gharib and Rathergate

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Assumptions

• This only occurs in task-oriented/problem-solving
  groups
• Conditions in groups promote high cohesiveness
• Group problem solving is primarily a unified
  process
• Groups Group decision making are frequently
  complex

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Cohesiveness
Assumption Conditions in groups promote high
cohesiveness

• The extent to which group members are willing to
  work together.
• The glue that binds the group.

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Affiliative Constraints
Assumption Group problem solving is primarily a
unified process.

• Group members withhold their input rather than
  risk rejection

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Groups and Decision Making ? Both Complex
Assumption Group decision making is frequently
complex.

• Group members must continue to understand the
  many alternatives available to them and be able
  to distinguish among these alternatives.
• Must understand both task at hand and the people
  who provide input into the task.

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3 Conditions Promote Groupthink

• High cohesiveness
• Specific structural characteristics of the
  environment in which the group functions
• Stressful internal and external characteristics
  of the situation.,

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Symptoms of Groupthink

• Overestimation of Group
• Illusion of invulnerability
• Belief in the inherent morality of the group
• Closed Mindedness

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Symptoms continued

• Out group stereotypes
• Collective rationalization
• Pressures towards uniformity
• Self Censorship

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Symptoms

• Illusions of Unanimity
• Self-Appointed Mindguards
• Pressures on Dissenters

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What do we do?

• Devils Advocate
• Allow for objection
• Look at range of objectives we wish to achieve
• Balance consensus and majority rule