In 2017, Kendall Jenner appeared in a highly controversial ad for Pepsi. According to experts, this happened because intelligence agents needed to please their superiors. Medical, military, or political decisions, for example, can lead to unfortunate outcomes when they are impaired by the effects of groupthink. This article provides a summary of research related to the groupthink theory. PMC Other examples where decision-making is believed to be heavily influenced by groupthink include: In more everyday settings, researchers suggest that groupthink might play a part in decisions made by professionals in healthcare settings. The term groupthink was coined in 1952 by William Whyte to describe the perils of rationalized conformity. The Salem Witch Trials This historical event provides an excellent groupthink definition and explanation. The .gov means its official. Treating new ideas as liminal (rather than literal) allowed members to relieve some of this pressure and enter into a transitional space where play and experimentation were encouraged. The Truth About Trying To Make Staff Happy, When Leaders Dont Agree With Organizational Decisions. Although the plans to invade the Bay of Pigs had leaked out, they carried on ignoring the adverse warning signs (Janis, 1972). He holds a PhD in education and has published over 20 articles in scholarly journals. Lunenburg FC. And yes, there are people who genuinely deserve cancellation, but many people are innocent victims. They have an electronic paper trail of who it was that accessed their data, when they accessed their data, and where they accessed their data. a. cooperation b. conflict c. social exchange d. coercion e. conformity. Groupthink is a suspension of critical thinking that often occurs in groups of people. sharing sensitive information, make sure youre on a federal Its interesting to note how the community reached a consensus, based on almost no evidence. This scoping review aimed to examine the conceptualization of groupthink in health care, empirical research conducted in healthcare teams, and recommendations to avoid groupthink. Delaying agreement can feel very stressful as it requires acknowledging uncertainty, which groups can interpret as failure or a lack of progress. 2011;4(1):37-57. Why does groupthink occur? These groups are highly prone to groupthink quick agreement around status quo solutions with little discussion or deliberation. Two well-known examples of Groupthink in action are . Dont voice an opinion as the leaderuntil you have sought the opinion of group members. They didnt act or prepare because they rationalised that the Japanese wouldnt never attempt such an invasion. Groupthink: A cultural phenomenon where group-self-reflection is discouraged to preserve group identity and unity. The majority voted for Brexit, but the decision has caused many problems for the UKproblems that could have been avoided if every opinion had been heard and respected. Weeks before the attack, hundreds of communications were intercepted from Japan. There are dozens of reasons why the market crashed. Research into the phenomenon of groupthink is a pertinent area of study that involves understanding how group processes influence the making of . Groupthink occurs when a group values cohesiveness and unanimity more than making the right decision. In: StatPearls [Internet]. It can contribute to group members engaging in self-censorship. Let us consider an example in a business setting. Introduction. Instead of expressing dissent and risking losing a sense of group unity, members stay silent. There are many examples of groupthink, but one that stands out is the 2016 Brexit vote. Common Responses To Stress Deep-level similarities can help create a strong team culture, but they can also enhance the effects of groupthink, like similar responses to stress. This book also demonstrates that the likelihood of groupthink greatly increases when you remove outside influences. In situations characterized by groupthink, individuals may self-censor criticism of the group decision, or group leaders may suppress dissenting information. "Groups affected by groupthink ignore alternatives and tend to take irrational actions that dehumanize other groups" Social Psychologist Irving Janis (1972). Boston, Mass. They saw the escalation of war as morally correct. However, everyone else in the group agrees with the person who suggested the idea, and the group seemsset on pursuing that course of action. Making better decisions in groups. The Salem Witch Trials are also a fantastic example of mass hysteria. Dan spoke from the perspective of the patient, who may not have the time or interest to carefully look through the audit. Unfortunately, research shows that consensus-based problem-solving groups are often where innovative ideas go to die. It was only when the evidence became undeniable that these doctors reversed their claims. Similarly, not all cases of groupthink result in failures or fiascoes to use Janis wording. We cite peer reviewed academic articles wherever possible and reference our sources at the end of our articles. Kramer, R. M. (1998). Ad by Sane Solution Throat phlegm? Actively seek and value diversity on teams to include age, cultural, educationaland ideas. Four of the main characteristics of groupthink include pressure to conform, the illusion of invulnerability, self-censorship, and unquestioned beliefs. By the mid-80s, Coke was in big trouble. A total of 22 articles were included-most were commentaries or narrative reviews with only four empirical research studies. Confirmation bias involves selectively gathering and interpretation evidence to . What makes this an example of groupthink and acting without enough information was the fact that North Vietnam did not actually attack the U.S. unprovoked. Entertaining opposing viewpoints can help break up the norm of . A primary threat to group effectiveness is groupthink. The command was also more concerned with Japanese citizens living in Hawaii who they believed were a far bigger threat to Pearl Harbor. When there are structural issues (such as group isolation and a lack of impartial, The suppression of individual opinions and creative thought can lead to inefficient. Rose JD. Example of Groupthink. However, their view could save the company/organization from making a mistake. This group believed that it was possible to increase profits quarter after quarter. A great example of this is the movie 12 Angry Men. Don't miss a post! This is because Nixon had an inner group of people who were fiercely loyal to him. View more articles in the Social Psychology and Social Processes topic area. The people in charge wanted Saddam to have these weapons, so agents only supplied information confirming their biases. There were dozens of reasons why (the biggest being accounting irregularities), but another answer was groupthink. Don't discourage dissent or challenges to the prevailing opinion. In addition, group polarization can lead to groupthink, which . (Features & Stereotypes). Alexander Downer Columnist. This can contribute to inefficient decision making as ideas and thoughts go unchallenged in favour of cohesion. Outright rejection of single-payer and related solutions also stymies creative approaches to our current situation, not to mention the denial of climate change, a true public health crisis of unprecedented proportions. Analyze your school as a bureaucracy. Its also a great example of how small groups of people can have an outsized influence when it comes to groupthink. To avoid groupthink in your teams we recommend managers take the following three steps. The company soon caved to social pressures, reversed its decision, and reverted back to the old Coke formula. Once President Kennedy came into power, the plan was immediately put into action. Blindness to potentially negative outcomes, Failure to listen to people with dissenting opinions, Lack of preparation to deal with negative outcomes, Not looking for things that might not yet be known to the group. Turner Joy. The invasion ended up being an enormous failure, and people directly blamed the Kennedy administration. https://helpfulprofessor.com/groupthink-examples/, The illusion that a group is invulnerable, fully competent, and coherent. When the Washington Post broke Watergate, it caused a national scandal and led to Richard Nixon resigning. Groups are tempted to gravitate towards the status quo because they dont face a high cost if they fail. Some people have classified this event as an example of groupthink. In January 1986, the space shuttle Challenger exploded 73 seconds after liftoff, killing all seven astronauts aboard. This was seen as an act of aggression which led to the Gulf of Tonkin resolution, which in turn escalated the Vietnam War. Reward creativity and give group members regular opportunities to share their ideas and thoughts. Three research-backed strategies to keep innovative ideas flowing. She claims that a small group of individuals controlled Enron and had complete control over the companies decision-making processes. doi: 10.5694/mja2.50881. What was once the worlds No. Upon release, this ad sparked a huge outcry, resulting in it being pulled from television within a day. 2022 Sep 21;9(10):1436. doi: 10.3390/children9101436. This is one of the more extreme cases of groupthink and proved disastrous. First, U.S. government officials during the war considered themselves untouchable despite having suffered multiple failures and financial/human losses. Establish group norms to encourage and promote divergent thinking. "It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society." And groupthink . For example, prior studies have found that brainstorming results in fewer ideas rather than more, and hinders rather than helps productivity. Conformity can sometimes cause groupthink, but it isn't always the motivating factor. Clipboard, Search History, and several other advanced features are temporarily unavailable. Groupthink: A Study in Self Delusion, by Mr Christopher Booker. This review found that focus on groupthink and group decision making in medicine is relatively new and growing in interest. Accessibility In case you dont know, this was an event where North Vietnamese ships attacked the U.S.S. Here, the desire for group cohesion effectively drives out good decision-making and problem solving. Nicky: Is there a recommended wording you think will make this point clear? Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 73(23), 163-184. Healthcare costs are out of control, Americans continue to get sicker, and we spend more for less with each passing year. Then identify and celebrate moments of broad agreement. These include: It is important to note that while groupthink and conformity are similar and related concepts, there are important distinctions between the two. Public health interventions, such as mandated vaccinating or quarantining during an epidemic, are necessary to limit the spread of communicable diseases, but in many cases, certain groups resist these initiatives. Groupthink might lead groups to reach more extreme or wrong decisions that only some members genuinely support. It marks a deterioration of mental efficiency, reality testing, and moral judgment that results from ingroup pressures (Janis, 1972, p. 9). The girls also believe that everything they do is right and discard their personal opinions. Although groupthink often leads to bad (even unethical) decisions, group leaders should try avoid groupthink by creating diverse and inclusive groups, enabling members to voice their views without fear, and considering opposing views seriously. Some people actually believe that this organization is a scam. When there is a high degree of cohesiveness. Riskin Y, Riskin A, Zaitoon H, Habib C, Blanche E, Gover A, Mintz A. Studentsshould always cross-check any information on this site with their course teacher. Researchers studied four virtual task forces that were set up to recommend a process to make Americans health care records electronic. There is emerging interest in understanding group decision making among a team of health professionals. 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