Groupthink and Its Consequences Quiz

Groupthink

• Groupthink suggests that groups make premature decisions, which can have lasting and tragic consequences.
• Conditions in a group can promote high cohesiveness, leading to collective thinking and a unified process.

Characteristics of Groupthink

• Overestimation of the group, leading to an illusion of invulnerability
• Belief in the inherent morality of the group, leading to a moral compass
• Closed-mindedness, with a tendency to stereotypes out-group members
• Collective rationalization, ignoring warnings about a decision
• Pressure towards uniformity, with self-censorship and an illusion of unanimity
• Self-appointed mindguards, minimizing doubts and counterarguments
• Pressure on dissenters, discouraging opposing views

Preventing Groupthink

• Brainstorming, nominal group technique, and Delphi technique can help prevent groupthink
• Changing policy and decision-making processes is essential
• Avoiding group insulation, ensuring impartial leadership, and using structured decision-making processes are crucial
• Having a diverse group membership from different backgrounds can help prevent groupthink

Factors Contributing to Groupthink

• Group cohesiveness, stress, and lack of impartial leadership can contribute to groupthink
• Homogenous group membership, lack of decision-making processes, and structural factors can also lead to groupthink
• Stress can evoke groupthink, causing the group to make faulty decisions

Identifying Groupthink

• Identifying symptoms of groupthink, such as overestimation of the group, closed-mindedness, and pressure towards uniformity, can help prevent its consequences