Groupthink

Groupthink refers to the practice of thinking or making decisions as a group in a way that discourages creativity or individual responsibility. It is a phenomenon that occurs when a group of individuals reaches a consensus without critical reasoning or evaluation of the consequences or alternatives. Groupthink is based on a common desire not to upset the balance of a group of people.

• Groupthink is a phenomenon in which individuals overlook potential problems in the pursuit of consensus thinking.
• Any dissenters in the group who may attempt to introduce a rational argument are pressured to come around to a consensus and may even be censored.
• Groupthink is particularly dangerous in political situations where no single actor has all of the relevant information.
• Groupthink can be reduced by inviting criticism or appointing one person to act as a "devil's advocate" against the group.
• The Challenger shuttle disaster, the Bay of Pigs, Watergate, and the escalation of the Vietnam War are all considered possible consequences of groupthink.

See Also

• Decision Making
• Problem Solving
• Leadership