GroupthinkBy: Kiara Besonia
PreventionOverestimation of the group
◦Illusion of Invulnerability◦Belief in the Inherent Morality of the Group
Close-Mindedness◦Out-group stereotypes◦Collective Rationalization
Pressures towards Uniformity◦Self-censorship◦ Illusion of unanimity self appointed mindguards◦Pressures on dissenters
My Personal AccountWomen’s Club Indoor Volleyball
tournament at Sacred Heart University
The worst tournament that I’ve seen/been a part of in the three years that I have been on the TCNJ volleyball team
Overestimation of the Group
“I think we’re goingto do really welltoday, it looks likewe play a lot betterthan these teams.”
Illusion of InvulnerabilityThe group believes that they are invincible
Overestimation of the Group
Team has goodplayersthat make gooddecisions,but as a whole we donot
Belief in the Inherent Morality of the GroupThe group thinks of itself as good and therefore think their decision making is good as well…
Out-Group Stereotypes
Out of shape, nocoach, sloppy warmUp = No competition.
WRONG!
Create stereotypical views of group enemies or competitors
Closed-Mindedness
Collective RationalizationIgnoring signs that indicate that a change to the initial plan or decision
Closed-Mindedness
Bad practice on Monday, so we skipped practice on Wednesday
Self-CensorshipPeople of the group try to minimize their doubts and uncertainties
Pressures Toward Uniformity
We all knew we were playing badly, but none of us wanted to acknowledge it.
Illusion of UnanimitySilence means that everyone agrees
Pressures Toward Uniformity
Revamped the lineupand no oneprotested.
Self-Appointed Mindguards
Last team in the poolhas to referee therest of the games inthat pool.
People who try and protect the group from information that they feel is unfavorable towards the group
Pressures Toward Uniformity
Pressures on DissentersPressure on people in the group who do not agree with the rest of the group
Pressures Toward Uniformity
Preventing Groupthink
Looking at the range of objectives group members wish to achieve
Developing and reviewing action plans and alternatives
Preventing GroupthinkExploring the consequences of each
alternative
Analyzing previously rejected action plans when new information emerges
Having a contingency plan for failed objectives
Preventing Groupthink
Require oversight and control◦Establish a governing committee
Embrace Whistle Blowing◦Whistle blowing – voicing opinions when something
is wrong or can be done better
Allow for Objection
Balance Consensus and Majority Rule
Critique
Scope Testability
Concepts can be applied to several types of groups
Janis only meant it for decision-making groups
Scope = Narrow
Concurrence seeking?Incorporates self
esteem in his discussions, but not in his theory
Critique
Heurism Test of Time
The theory has been used in a number of studies
It has led to many assumptions about group behavior
Janis was called a pioneer in the study of social dynamics
Although derived more from theory than experiment or observation
Still very interesting
Groupthink = Abstract◦Why? – doesn’t necessarily work for all groups
Groupthink is concerned with how groups balance agreement when trying to make a decision.
The purpose of Groupthink is to assess the ways in which people begin to sacrifice the weighing of options during decision making in order to avoid pressure and conform with a group.
Discussion QuestionsWhat do you think?
If whistle blowing is so important, why does it seem like it is it looked down upon? Is there a way for society to change the way that we view whistle blowers?
Do you think that whistle blowing comes more from a person’s amount of self esteem? If so, what are and its affects of self esteem on Groupthink?