Understanding Group Think and How to Avoid Its Negative Effects
Published by Rob James,
Despite the best intentions, a group of people make unwise decisions because of a collective desire to avoid raising controversial issues or alternative solutions. In striving for conformity, there can be a loss of individual creativity, uniqueness and independent thinking. This phenomenon is called groupthink.
Groupthink is a phenomenon wherein a group of people, often in positions of power, come together and make decisions that are not necessarily based on logic or critical thinking. It is the result of a collective decision-making process which prioritizes the need for conformity over independent thought and critical evaluation. This can lead to bad decisions being made as well as a lack of creativity and innovation.
Groupthink can be seen in many different settings, from businesses to government organizations to social groups. It is especially prevalent in situations where there is limited time for decision-making or where there is heavy pressure for agreement among members of the group. In such cases, members may be more likely to go along with the majority opinion instead of voicing their own opinion or questioning the decisions being made. This can lead to poor outcomes, as groupthink fails to take into account individual perspectives or different points of view.
The term "groupthink" was first coined by Irving Janis in 1972 and has since become an important concept in organizational psychology and behavior. According to Janis, groupthink occurs when members of a group become so focused on maintaining harmony that they begin to ignore potential problems or risks associated with their decisions. Other factors that can contribute to groupthink include an authoritarian leader who has strong opinions and does not encourage dissenting opinions; a lack of diversity among the group members; an intense pressure for conformity; and a shared illusion of invulnerability or invincibility among the members.
One example of how groupthink can lead to poor decision-making occurred during the Bay of Pigs Invasion in 1961. President John F Kennedy wanted to overthrow Cuban leader Fidel Castro, so he asked for advice from his advisors about how best to do it. However, due to Kennedy’s desire for agreement among his advisors, they all ended up giving him similar advice which ultimately led them into a disastrous invasion attempt.
Another example occurred during the Challenger Space Shuttle disaster in 1986 when NASA engineers were advised by their superiors not to voice any concerns they had about launching the shuttle because it was thought that doing so would slow down progress on the project and cause delays. Unfortunately, this decision was made without considering all possible risks associated with launching and resulted in the tragic death of seven astronauts onboard the shuttle when it exploded shortly after takeoff.
In order to avoid falling victim to groupthink, it is important for leaders in any setting—from business organizations to political bodies—to create an environment where different perspectives are encouraged and valued rather than suppressed or ignored out of fear that dissenters will slow down progress or disrupt harmony within the group. Leaders should also ensure that all relevant information is taken into consideration before making any final decisions and that everyone involved has access to this information so they can make informed choices about what course of action should be taken next.
Finally, leaders must recognize that while unanimity may be desirable at times, it should never come at the expense of critical thinking or creative problem solving—even if this means sacrificing some degree of harmony within a group setting in order for individual voices and perspectives to be heard loud enough so that better solutions can emerge from them collectively rather than settling on one solution proposed by just one person without considering other possible options first.
Group think is a phenomenon that occurs when people in a group become so focused on achieving consensus that they lose sight of their individual objectives and begin to make decisions based on the perceived opinion of the group. It can lead to poor decision-making, as the group will often make decisions based on what they believe is popular rather than what is actually best for the group. Group think can also lead to conformity and an unwillingness to consider alternatives, as individuals may feel pressure from the group to agree with whatever opinion is most popular. Group think can be detrimental in both personal and professional settings, as it can limit creativity and lead to bad decisions that could have been avoided if alternative perspectives had been considered.