Azaz AhmedBibhuti B. BhardwajGangaram Sapkota
Presented By-
What is a Groupthink?
Groupthink is a method of thought
a way of thinking performed by a group of
individuals in an effort to curtail discord and
to arrive at a sense of accord or agreement.
Groupthink was discovered as an undesirable by-
product of group cohesiveness by a psychologist
named Irving Janis.
Groupthink was discovered as an undesirable by-
product of group cohesiveness by a psychologist
named Irving Janis.
the group is insulated
from outside opinions
there are no clear rules
for decision making
members are similar in
background
A group is vulnerable to groupthink
A group is vulnerable to groupthink
when
individuals will test, analyze and
evaluate the group ideas under
examination.
During the
Groupthink
process
Symptoms of Group Think:
Illusion of Invulnerability: Members ignore obvious danger,
take extreme risk, and are overly optimistic.
Illusion of Invulnerability: Members ignore obvious danger,
take extreme risk, and are overly optimistic.
Collective Rationalization: Members discredit and explain away
warning contrary to group thinking
Collective Rationalization: Members discredit and explain away
warning contrary to group thinking
Symptoms of Group Think:
Excessive Stereotyping: The group constructs negative
stereotypes of rivals outside the group.
Excessive Stereotyping: The group constructs negative
stereotypes of rivals outside the group.
Illusion of Morality: Members believe their decisions are morally
correct, ignoring the ethical consequences of their decisions
Self-Censorship: Members withhold their dissenting views and
counter-arguments.
Self-Censorship: Members withhold their dissenting views and
counter-arguments.
Pressure for Conformity: Members pressure any in the group who
express arguments against the group's stereotypes, illusions, or
commitments, viewing such opposition as disloyalty
Pressure for Conformity: Members pressure any in the group who
express arguments against the group's stereotypes, illusions, or
commitments, viewing such opposition as disloyalty
Symptoms of Group Think:
Illusion of Unanimity: Members perceive falsely that everyone
agrees with the group's decision; silence is seen as consent.
Illusion of Unanimity: Members perceive falsely that everyone
agrees with the group's decision; silence is seen as consent.
Mind guards: Some members appoint themselves to the role of
protecting the group from adverse information that might threaten
group complacency.
Mind guards: Some members appoint themselves to the role of
protecting the group from adverse information that might threaten
group complacency.
Symptoms of Group Think:
Examples of groupthink
Corporate Politica
l
Sports
Corporate
Swissair’s Collapse: Thought to be so financially stable that people referred to it
as the “Flying Bank.” Poor decision-making processes eventually led to its
collapse.
Symptoms: The belief that the group is invulnerable and the belief in
the morality of the group.
Lack of expertise, similar backgrounds / norms and pressure to conform
were also present.
Symptoms: The belief that the group is invulnerable and the belief in
the morality of the group.
Lack of expertise, similar backgrounds / norms and pressure to conform
were also present.
Consequences: Collapse of SwissairConsequences: Collapse of Swissair
Political
Vietnam war: Groupthink is believed to be main reason for the war. Strategic
advisors in 3 successive administrations rubber-stamped battle plans laced with
false assumptions.
Vietnam war: Groupthink is believed to be main reason for the war. Strategic
advisors in 3 successive administrations rubber-stamped battle plans laced with
false assumptions.
Symptoms: Groupthink prevented contradictory views to the war from being
expressed and subsequently evaluated.
Consequences: 58,220 United States servicemen died.
Sports
Major League Umpire Association: In 1999, the Major League Baseball
Association staged a mass resignation in a failed attempt to gain a stronger
negotiating stance.
Major League Umpire Association: In 1999, the Major League Baseball
Association staged a mass resignation in a failed attempt to gain a stronger
negotiating stance.
Symptoms: The umpires overestimated the power that they had over the
baseball league and the strength of their group’s resolve. There was the
presence of self-censorship; some umpires who disagreed with the decision to
resign failed to voice their dissent.
Consequences: Failed strategy, Major League Baseball accepted their
resignations, 22 umpires were out of jobs and eventually replaced.
Consequences: Failed strategy, Major League Baseball accepted their
resignations, 22 umpires were out of jobs and eventually replaced.