GROUPTHINK THEORY COMM410 As people, when confronted with a problem where a solution must be found, our ideal situation is to come up with the best possible one. To do this, we ideally gather the most knowledgeable, intelligent individuals into a group and attempt to derive the best solution to the problem. With the collection of these people, one would think that finding the best possible answer to the problem would be a rather simple task. However, what has happened in many situations is the complete opposite. Rather than finding the best possible solutions, many ideal, cohesive groups arrive at the worst possible answer largely due to problems in communication within the group. This is what we call the radical theory of …show more content…
With the potential of having many opinions within the group, it can be difficult and time costly to ultimately reach a consensus. As individuals, we are all rhetoricians and have different methods of communication. When it comes to discussing our opinions and persuading group members of our ideas, arguments are sometimes created because of the diversity within the group. What matters is whether the argument is productive or not. “While there are many unproductive arguments, others generate some of the most creative joint thinking we ever achieve together” (Mercer, 74). Unfortunately, in the case of groupthink, arguments tend to be avoided at all costs. Groupthink theory often occurs without the group’s realization. Irving Janis formed 8 different symptoms that indicate groupthink. The first of these symptoms is illusions of vulnerability. This occurs when members of the group are overly optimistic and believe that nothing negative will arise from their decision. Janis describes it as taking great risks and acquiring the attitude of “everything is going to be OK, because we are a special group”. Secondly we have belief in inherent morality. This symptom is characterized as the groups thought that they could do no wrong. They believe that they have high morality, that they are right in all situations and they ignore the ethical consequences that could arise because of their decisions. As the third
There are eight symptoms of groupthink. The first symptom is when all or most of the group view themselves as invincible which
Let me introduce you to an overview of a book called “Originals,” written by Adam Grant, professor of Psychology at Wharton University of Pennsylvania. His book focus on how to generate new thoughts and battle mindless conformity. Grant achieved this idea by introducing groupthink, a mental wonder that happens inside a gathering of individuals in which the craving for agreement or similarity in the group brings a silly or broken basic leadership result. Also, by utilizing astounding reviews and stories spreading over business, legislative issues, games, and excitement. Indeed, Grant investigates how to perceive a smart thought, talk up without getting quieted, assemble a coalition of partners, pick the ideal time to act, and oversee dread and uncertainty; how guardians and instructors can sustain innovation in children; and how pioneers can fabricate societies that appreciated contradiction.
“Groupthink being a coinage - and, admittedly, a loaded one - a working definition is in order. We are not talking about mere instinctive conformity - it is, after all, a perennial failing of mankind. What we are talking about is a rationalized conformity - an open, articulate philosophy which holds that group values are not only expedient but right and good as well (p. 114).”
When groupthink does in fact occur, it is because the “group’s balance tilts towards maintaining cohesiveness and harmony rather than toward thinking critically.” (Galanes & Adams, 2013, p. 268) The resultant outcome of groupthink usually has negative impacts. According to social psychologist Irving Janis, there are eight documented symptoms of groupthink: Illusion of invulnerability, Collective rationalization, Belief in inherent morality, stereotyped views of out-groups, direct
When groups exhibit groupthink the end result is disastrous decision making. This was evident concerning the decision regarding postwar Iraq with all the looting. The self-censoring of doubts presented a false picture and only served to maintain a false unity that gave an illusion of unanimity. Placing direct pressure resulted in an estimate filled with data that was not iron clad. Instead of narrowing down on one course of action, as in
The term groupthink in this report is defined as, the social psychological phenomenon that results in groups during pressure situations. This social psychology theory is broken down into eight signs. 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”. According to research conducted by Irving Janis, there are three conditions to groupthink. The first, "high group cohesiveness" which is the direction for a group to be in unity while working towards a goal, or to satisfy the emotional needs of its members. Secondly, the structural faults such as insulation of the group, lack
The concept of groupthink was brought on by social psychologist Irving Janis in 1972. Groupthink is when a group is required to make a decision, and under that pressure, unifies to make one that can appear as unanimous of that group. The fact that there is a necessity to come up with a solution or an organized decision makes it so some members of the group will simply go along with the view of the majority. The pressure from the group causes there to often be questionable choices or outcomes. The results of groupthink could be risky or irrational in the rush of the thoughts coming to their actual real-life manifestation. Irving Janis emphasized that there are eight symptoms of groupthink, and a few of which are present almost always. Groups allow for encouragement and can lead to more extreme actions being carried out. Members of the group disregard any obvious signs to abandon a dangerous notion, and they have little consideration for ethics and morals that do not fall into line with their own. Groupthink incorporates stereotypes that the group may hold into their decision making. Members that might not otherwise think in such specific ways, are more likely to conform to the entirety of the group because of the power that lies in numbers. Members of the group are unlikely to go against any of the group’s views and will result in them becoming more complacent and agreeable regardless or
Hello John, Thank you for hiring me and giving me the opportunity to be a part of your team! When an organization is effected by groupthink, a group is not able to consider minority perspectives, the group in the long run gets to be useless and can't successfully finish the choice making procedure, which incorporates measuring option arrangements with expectations of picking the best choice. This concealment of restricting perspectives in the end prompts unreasonable and unsound choices, which have a tendency to be more compelling, radical, and unsafe to the usefulness, prosperity, and life span of the group. Although groupthink involves restricting opinions, it is not actively and intentionally pursued. Instead, groupthink is a psychological
Groupthink is a theory from a social psychologist, Irving Janis. It is when a group makes faulty decisions because of group pressure. This eventually leads to a lack of mental competence, enabling one from making decisions solemnly on their own ideas. Groupthink also lowers the level of one’s morals and ethics. People affected my Groupthink discard alternatives and tend to take irrational measure and “go-with-the-flow”. “A group is especially vulnerable to groupthink when its members are similar in background, when the group is insulated from outside opinions, and when there are no clear rules for decision making.” The concept of groupthink is to depict a particular form of excessive concurrence-seeking in cohesive groups associated with several U.S. Policy fiascoes
The groupthink trap is when majority of the group supports an idea and you do not speak up even though you do not agree with the idea (LaForce, 2014). You either are not confident enough to think you are right, or you do not want to cause a disagreement or conflict (LaForce, 2014).
In Cain’s essay, she discusses the issue of the new trend of group thinking. Her main focus is the way that the forced groupthink effects people, and lessens their abilities to creatively think. She backs up her points by showing various instances where the individuals mind was not allowed to flourish. Cain argues that this new idea of groupthinkng is harmful to the individual
Groupthink is defined as a mode of thinking that people engage in when they are deeply involved in a cohesive in-groups when members’ strivings for unanimity override their motivation to realistically appraise alternative courses of action. (Kreitner & Kinicki, 2013) Basically, it's when a group makes decisions that, more or less, discourages creativity or individual responsibility. I remember a time when I was in a business meeting, as an administrative assistant, taking notes, and at the time I didn’t know that what I was sitting in was a groupthink, but as I look back I can see the symptoms of one. There was a unanimous amount of peer-pressure to coax individuals into agreeing to a decision or idea that was presented. There was also the
Brainstorming in groups, if handled properly, can lead to the most advantageous solution to a problem. If mishandled, the group will return disastrous advice. One of the obstacles to effective brainstorming is groupthink; when the group follows along with the consensus to maintain harmony. This process is dangerous because the ideas presented are not critically evaluated, and without proper evaluation the wrong decision can be made.
Groupthink is the narrowing of the mind to think that there could only be one possible answer. Sociologist Irving Janis used it to refer to the collective tunnel vision that group members sometimes developed. In Asch’s experiment, for example, when the different people in the experiment felt the sense of panic, thirty percent of them gave into the wrong answer, because they started
Furthermore, groupthink and group polarization also occurred in the movie. Groupthink is the tendency for members to reach solidarity, and the group often avoids questions that could lead to disputes (Iurchevici, 2016). In order for groupthink to occur, the group must be highly cohesive, in a group structure, and in a stressful situation (Kassin et al., 2013). All three of these were present in the movie, as the members of the group