Groupthink
Groupthink
Groupthink (/ˈɡruːpˌθɪŋk/) is a psychological phenomenon that occurs within a group of people in which the desire for harmony or conformity in the group results in an irrational or dysfunctional decision-making outcome.
Etymology
The term was coined by social psychologist Irving Janis in 1972. It is derived from George Orwell's "doublethink" in his dystopian novel Nineteen Eighty-Four and was introduced after research on why a team's decision-making process can sometimes lead to poor decisions.
Definition
Groupthink is a type of thought exhibited by group members who try to minimize conflict and reach consensus without critically testing, analyzing, and evaluating ideas. It is a second potential negative consequence of group cohesion.
Symptoms
Janis has documented eight symptoms of groupthink:
- Illusion of invulnerability
- Collective rationalization
- Belief in inherent morality
- Stereotyped views of out-groups
- Direct pressure on dissenters
- Self-censorship
- Illusion of unanimity
- Self-appointed ‘mindguards’
Related Terms
- Cohesion: The act of forming a united whole.
- Consensus decision-making: A group decision-making process that seeks the consent, not necessarily the agreement, of participants and the resolution of objections.
- Conformity: Behavior in accordance with socially accepted conventions or standards.
- Doublethink: The acceptance of or mental capacity to accept contrary opinions or beliefs at the same time, especially as a result of political indoctrination.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Groupthink
- Wikipedia's article - Groupthink
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