Groupthink
Candlefocus EditorThe notion of groupthink was first identified by social psychologist Irving Janis in 1972. Janis argued that groupthink exists when a group of people make faulty decisions as a result of struggling to choose the most correct answer and want to conform to a single belief in the group, mindless of the strength of that belief or idea.
In order to conform to the group, members of the group will diminish their independent perspectives and attempt to work with the group to agree on one solution. A group who experiences groupthink will be consistently reluctant to seek out alternative solutions and ideas, as they’d rather spend time focusing on solutions they have already come to an agreement on.
Groupthink can be especially dangerous in political situations, where no single individual has access to all of the necessary information, and yet the entire group is staring down the barrel of a critical decision. This can result in catastrophic mistakes and wrongdoings, when the group is more focused on achieving a unified stance than an accurate judgement.
Some famous examples of the destruction caused by groupthink include the Challenger shuttle disater, the Bay of Pigs fiasco, Watergate, and the acceleration of the Vietnam War.
Luckily, groupthink can be managed or reduced. Experts advise having a few members of the group to act as devil’s advocates, being particularly harsh and critical. This should open up dialogue and discussion that could lead to finding a solution that fulfills the group's needs, instead of relying too heavily on a single belief system.
In sum, groupthink can create disastrous and dangerous situations, resulting in dire circumstances. However, with the proper guidance and outlook, groupthink can be avoided, and groups can use this phenomenon to their advantage by ensuring that discussion and criticism is welcomed and encouraged.