Groupthink

1
Groupthink

• When group members striving for agreement (norm
  for unanimity), fail to realistically appraise
  alternative courses of action
• A means for a group to protect its positive image
  (extremely high in cohesion)

2
Groupthink video

• Identify factors that may lead to groupthink
• Identify symptoms of groupthink
• Identify methods to minimize groupthink

3
Antecedents of Groupthink

• Factors that may lead to groupthink
• High levels of cohesion
• Stressful decision-making context
• External pressure
• Tight budgets
• Recent failures

4
Symptoms of Groupthink

• Illusion of unanimity (false consensus)
• Silence implies agreement
• Im not going to call for a vote, I think we are
  all in agreement here
• Weve decided..
• Challenger example
• Self-censorship
• Not speaking up (feeling of tension caused by
  pressure to be silent internally wanting to
  speak up)
• I had a few objections, but since everybody
  seems committed, I wont bring them up.

5
Symptoms of Groupthink (cont)

• Illusion of invulnerability Rationalization
• Our strategy has worked in the past, odds are it
  will again
• We are the best military in the world, what do
  we have to worry about
• Mindguards
• No need for you to be at the meeting Ill
  summarize your concerns for the board

6
Ways to Minimize Groupthink

• Avoid isolating the group
• Bring in outside experts
• JFK example
• Critical evaluators / Devils advocate
• Role is to question assumptions and uncontested
  information
• Open climate
• Leader invites and accepts divergent thinking
• Avoid being directive
• Strong leaders speak last or sometimes not at all
• JFK example