2022 Sep 21;9(10):1436. doi: 10.3390/children9101436. Media accounts of the noncompliant groups suggest that the conditions that often cause groupthinksuch as high levels of cohesion and isolation, stress, strong conformity pressures, and directive but misinformed leadershipwere all in evidence as these groups grew in influence and intensity. All Rights Reserved. In the above conversation, Kevin interpreted the comment onerous in terms of how the backup system functioned. In reality, it was the exact opposite. Not only that, doctors advertised these cigarettes and recommended smoking for people with sore throats. These include: The suppression of individual opinions and creative thought can lead to inefficient problem-solving. When the Washington Post broke Watergate, it caused a national scandal and led to Richard Nixon resigning. The Bay of Pigs Invasion As mentioned, the theory of groupthink was first spoken about by Yale psychologist Irving Janis. Public service announcements designed to create a sense of shared identity, such as Were all in this together and Alone together campaigns, will be more effective if viewers can identify with the individuals who serve as spokespersons in these messages. Kendra Cherry, MS, is an author and educational consultant focused on helping students learn about psychology. Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. Don't miss a post! (Features & Stereotypes), 10 Italian People Features & Stereotypes (What They Look Like), 10 Polish people Features, Characteristics and Stereotypes, What do Swedish People Look Like? Their higher intelligence also makes them believe that whatever they think is right. The symptoms of groupthink are: (i) stereotyping the adversarys ineptitude, (ii) illusions of invincibility leading to excessive risk taking (Janis, 1972),. Groupthink, a term coined by Irving Janis to depict premature consensus seeking in highly cohesive groups, is a theory that has been widely discussed in disciplines outside health care. This can be damaging even in minor situations but can have much more dire consequences in certain settings. And Ryan interpreted the audit system not allowing for patient control as onerous. Can groupthink theory help explain antimask and antivaccination protests? Juries can also fall victim to groupthink. From Disabled and $500k in Debt to a Pro Blogger with 5 Million Monthly Visitors, 25 Most Famous Groupthink Examples in History and Pop Culture, Force Field Analysis Explained with Examples, Extreme Ownership Speed Summary (3 Minutes) w/ PDF, 25 Ways to Improve Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace, "From Disabled and $500k in Debt to a Pro Blogger with 5 Million Monthly Visitors. Groupthink. Introduction. Victims of cancel culture are convicted without trial and may have their careers, lives, and families destroyed. This article provides a summary of research related to the groupthink theory. Define groupthink and group polarization. The company hotline received more than 1,500 calls per day. Why does groupthink occur? What makes this an example of groupthink and acting without enough information was the fact that North Vietnam did not actually attack the U.S. unprovoked. Once President Kennedy came into power, the plan was immediately put into action. They also stereotyped their enemies, deeming them unable to make correct decisions. From February 1692 to May 1693, the town charged more than 200 people with witchcraft. In addition, group polarization can lead to groupthink, which . In fact, it was actually the first video in the history of YouTube to break one million views. Don't discourage dissent or challenges to the prevailing opinion. There are several possible explanations for this effect, including 'social loafing' and cognitive overload. They were worried about how this could impact their career. Another form of nursing groupthink is the hazing and bullying of new nurses. Groupthink, a term coined by Irving Janis to depict premature consensus seeking in highly cohesive groups, is a theory that has been widely discussed in disciplines outside health care. One of the most significant moments of the Vietnam War was The Gulf of Tonkin incident. Accessibility Group Dynamics: Theory, Research, and Practice, 24(3), 139152. a group of intelligent people working together to solve a problem can sometimes arrive at the worst possible answer., Well, thats the way weve always done it., Well, I was hazed, bullied, and sabotaged as a new nurse and now its my turn to get some payback; why should these new nurses get off easy?. People in groups often make mistakes, not because they have been overcome by their emotions or have subpar intelligence but because group-level processes prevent members from accurately appraising information, identifying errors, and considering superior alternatives. One symptom of groupthink is a fanatical need to carry out decisions made by the team leader, project manager, or person in charge (no matter how horrific these decisions are.) Groupthink: A Study in Self Delusion, by Mr Christopher Booker. Beyond stereotyping, Kennedys administration thought itself untouchable. They saw the escalation of war as morally correct. Read our, 9 Little Habits That Make You a Better Decision Maker, How to Lead: 6 Leadership Styles and Frameworks, How Your Brain May Trick You Into Conforming With Peers Against Your Beliefs, How a Transactional Leadership Style Works, Daily Tips for a Healthy Mind to Your Inbox, Group decision making: The potential for groupthink, Diverse perspectives on the groupthink theory - A literary review, Groupthink among health professional teams in patient care: A scoping review, Groupthink principles and fundamentals in organizations. Kevin: Is this data accessible on the network, or is it data that resides within an individuals application? It creates problems within cohesive in-groups, which in turn restricts moral judgment and puts too much emphasis on agreement and accord. The Salem Witch Trials This historical event provides an excellent groupthink definition and explanation. Ryan: I have a problem with the pure audit model. The decision to launch Challenger that day, despite problems with mechanical components of the vehicle and unfavorable weather conditions, is cited as an example of groupthink. Groupthink can also . PMC Authors Karissa DiPierro 1 , Hannah Lee 2 , Kevin J Pain 3 , Steven J Durning 4 , Justin J Choi 2 Affiliations 1 Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA. In 'Groupthink', the members feel they have arrived at a decision which is in the best interest of all, which in reality is not. Groupthink: Psychological studies of policy decisions and fiascoes (2nd ed.). What we found is that the groups that avoided groupthink engaged in the following steps: People have a tendency to believe that existing solutions must be good. Due to high levels of liquidity, it was even known as the flying bank. During the 1990s, things started to change. This fictional example illustrates key symptoms of groupthink: (i) group cohesion, (ii) selfcensorship, (ii) the mindguard (team leader) banning alternative opinions. The phenomenon can be problematic, but even well-intentioned people are prone to making irrational decisions in the face of overwhelming pressure from the group. Kramer, R. M. (1998). So how can managers help their teams keepfresh ideas alive? groupthink n. a type of thinking engaged in by a group of people deliberating an issue, typically characterized by the making of injudicious decisions through individuals' unwillingness to challenge group consensus. Dan: Right. Not only was Kony 2012 a stunning example of the theory of groupthink in action, but it also shows how easily social networks can manipulate the public. An often cited example of group think is the Challenger disaster. Reward creativity and give group members regular opportunities to share their ideas and thoughts. Triggers give members an opportunity to reveal how they each view the problem at hand. Cancel culture is another blatantly obvious example of groupthink. He wrote about this phenomenon in the 1972 publication titled Victims of Groupthink a Psychological Study of Foreign-policy Decisions and Fiascoes. APA Journals Article Spotlight is a free summary of recently published articles in an APA Journal. According to studies, this also happens due to the status of some members. The groups we studied worried that if they made incorrect recommendations, they would lose their reputation at best, and at worst dismantle the health care system and so harm human life. The Bay of Pigs Invasion showcases three characteristics of groupthink: (i) the illusion of invulnerability, (ii) stereotyping of the opponent and (iii) self-censorship. and transmitted securely. (Features & Stereotypes). Collaborative decision-making most frequently leads to better choices. The command was also more concerned with Japanese citizens living in Hawaii who they believed were a far bigger threat to Pearl Harbor. Give people time to come up with their own ideas first. In fact, it was actually the first video in the history of YouTube to break one million views. Entertaining opposing viewpoints can help break up the norm of . Organizational Tonypandy: Lessons from a Quarter Century of the Groupthink Phenomenon. (E.g., Others used it before and it worked then, so its not our fault that it didnt work now.). More specifically, it was because members of the team who designed the shuttle felt that the testing efforts were adequate. In medical education, groupthink occurs in the long sleepless hours worked by medical residents. Within nursing, when a staff nurse questions a particular accepted practice, the most dangerous words to be spoken in response are, Well, thats the way weve always done it. In nursing, groupthink can keep nurses utilizing practices that are not evidence-based simply because change is too bothersome. This caused widespread devastation and financial ruin for many people. Kony 2012 was a documentary that focused on Ugandan war criminal and militia leader Joseph Kony. Discuss how the solutions that have been used before might not solve the current problem you face. It seemed unbeatable, and this gave the company leaders a feeling of invulnerability. Nicky: Is there a recommended wording you think will make this point clear? official website and that any information you provide is encrypted Medical, military, or political decisions, for example, can lead to unfortunate outcomes when they are impaired by the effects of groupthink. These communications confirmed that an attack was imminent. Yet not all consensus-based problem-solving groups engage in groupthink. While some headway has been made in legislating residents hours, the reality is still mostly the same, with severely compromised residents populating teaching hospitals throughout the country like an army of highly educated zombies. Some people have classified this event as an example of groupthink. What is groupthink? For example, he explained to students that the eventual aim of the movement was to eliminate democracy. Accompanying this was a series of exercises and rules which students had to follow. On the fifth day, Ron told students that they were going to watch a video. This can have disastrous consequences for the group. While the phenomenon was popularized by . Would you like email updates of new search results? Also, avoid spending too much time with the group and seek outside advice. A total of 22 articles were included-most were commentaries or narrative reviews with only four empirical research studies. First, when evaluating a set of options specifically denote time on your agenda to challenge the status quo. Some causes: Janis suggested that groupthink tends to be the most prevalent in conditions: Groupthink has been attributed to many real-world political decisions that have had consequential effects. The more detailed audit, the more transparency. One of these examples is the Bay of Pigs Invasion. A famous example of Groupthink is the ultimately unsuccessful attack against Cuba in 1961. The four fund managers meet bi-weekly to discuss investing strategies and their top picks of the week. We need creative, courageous minds to gather together, reject groupthink, swear off the status quo, and move us into a brighter future. 2010;13(1). Summaries of recent APA Journals articles, Advancing psychology to benefit society and improve lives, Educational Psychology, School Psychology, and Training, Industrial/Organizational Psychology and Management. It can contribute to group members engaging in self-censorship. Medical, military, or political decisions, for example, can lead to unfortunate outcomes when they are impaired by the effects of groupthink. Gatekeeping. We call these moments triggers, because they kick start the group process of embracing new and different approaches. Hitler used his understanding of group dynamics and above-average ability for public speaking to hold an entire nation in sway. On the other hand, conformity is a process in which people change their own actions so they can fit in with a specific group. MeSH These groups are highly prone to groupthink quick agreement around status quo solutions with little discussion or deliberation. When there are situational factors that contribute to deferring to the group (such as external threats, moral problems, difficult decisions). But Donelson Forsyth, in an article published in Group Dynamics: Theory, Research, and Practice, suggests a second explanation for this unusual refusal to act in ways that are reasonable, healthy, and normative: groupthink. Not all poor group decisions result from groupthink. Janis, I. Anyway no one seems to consider other possible marketing plans, while the dynamic team leader firmly pushes for this campaign. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, antiquarantine groups protested the mandate to socially distance and remain at home, claiming these directives violated their right . Turner Joy. Groupthink occurs when individuals in cohesive groups fail to consider alternative perspectives because they are motivated to reach a consensus which typically results in making less than desirable decisions. Before big decisions, leaders should hold a "second-chance" meeting where members have the opportunity to express any remaining doubts. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 73(2-3), pp. Discuss the group's ideas with an outside member in order to get impartial opinions. Think about the last time you were part of a group, perhaps during a school project. Groupthink is most often associated with business, politics, and policymaking, but it also relates to the psychology of collective phobias and mass hysteria. In its effort to avoid negative press, NASAs Challenger mission claimed seven liveswhile the nation was watching. We call these liminal ideas while they may not be the final solution, they function as transitional placeholders that allow the group to think both concretely (i.e., drilling down on how the idea might work) and abstractly (i.e., developing agreement around the broader principle in question). Examples like these are why many boards now select a person who plays devils advocate. 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