All experts agree, however, that using brainstorming and decision making techniques designed to combat groupthink lead to higher quality results. Since then, research into groupthink has had mixed results. Source: What is Groupthink? on Psychologists for Social Responsibility Groupthink refers to a deterioration of mental efficiency, reality testing, and moral judgment that results from in-group pressures. Self-appointed ‘mindguards’ – Members protect the group and the leader from information that is problematic or contradictory to the group’s cohesiveness, view, and/or decisions.Illusion of unanimity – The majority view and judgments are assumed to be unanimous. Groupthink refers to a deterioration of mental efficiency, reality testing, and moral judgment that results from in-group pressures.1.Self-censorship – Doubts and deviations from the perceived group consensus are not expressed.Direct pressure on dissenters – Members are under pressure not to express arguments against any of the group’s views.Stereotyped view of those outside of the group. Unquestioned belief in the group’s inherent morality. Collective efforts to rationalize the group’s course of action. Stereotyped views of out-groups – Negative views of “enemy” make effective responses to conflict seem unnecessary. Symptoms of a group at risk of groupthink, according to Sims, are: Illusion of invulnerability.Belief in inherent morality – Members believe in the rightness of their cause and therefore ignore the ethical or moral consequences of their decisions.Collective rationalization – Members discount warnings and do not reconsider their assumptions.Illusion of invulnerability –Creates excessive optimism that encourages taking extreme risks. Groupthink occurs when the pressure to conform within a group interferes with that groups analysis of a problem and causes poor group decision making.In group situations, the group often takes action that individuals would not perform outside the group setting because groups make more extreme decisions than individuals do. The term "Groupthink" was invented by social psychologist Irving Janis in 1972, who described these 8 symptoms. Groupthink is the modification of the opinions of members of a group to align with what they believe is the group consensus (Janis, 1972). Group members avoid the critical evaluation of ideas and suppress dissenting opinions in an effort to minimize conflict. Groupthink describes what happens in meetings when a group focuses more on maintaining group harmony than in creating a quality outcome.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |