A psychological study of foreignpolicy decisions and fiascoes. This is one of the key characteristics of groupthink. Groupthink behavior is always a risk in online groups and group decision support systems gdss, especially when not all. Groupthink is a common problem in groups where the members share backgrounds and there is no system or rules for making decisions. Groupthink occurs when the pressure to conform within a group interferes with that groups analysis of a problem and causes poor group decision making. Groupthink is a psychological phenomenon that leads members of a group to make poor decisions and ignore valid alternatives in the face of internal pressures from the group. Groupthink definition in the cambridge english dictionary. In an unprecedented way, janis applied ideas from small. Guarding against groupthink in the professional work. Moderating the threat to reasonable lawsuits amy kjose anderson october 5, 2015 social psychologists have been studying the effects of groupthink for decades. Groupthink occurs when a group makes faulty or ineffective decisions for the sake of reaching a consensus. A mode of thinking that people engage in when they are deeply involved in a cohesive ingroup, when the members strivings for unanimity override their motivation to realistically appraise alternative courses of action. Groupthink definition of groupthink by merriamwebster. A read is counted each time someone views a publication summary such as the title, abstract, and list of authors, clicks on a figure, or views or downloads the fulltext.
Diverse perspectives on the groupthink theory a literary. This term was first given by irving janis who was a social psychologist. Taking the position that recent calls for major revisions to the original formulation are premature, this article examines four theoretical areas that have been problematic for scholars investigating the groupthink phenomenon. Stay connected to your students with prezi video, now in microsoft teams. Groupthink causes groups to make hasty, irrational decisions, where individual doubts are set aside, for fear of upsetting the groups balance. Janus 1972 said that groupthink is a deterioration of mental efficiency, reality testing, and moral judgment that results from ingroup pressures. The effects of perceived anonymity and anonymity states on conformity and groupthink in online communities. The term groupthink was coined by irving janis moorhead et al. A brief history of groupthink features yale alumni. Janis originally defined groupthink as a mode of thinking that people engage in when they are deeply involved in a cohesive ingroup, when the members strivings for unanimity override their motivation to realistically appraise alter native courses of action. Groupthink principles and fundamentals in organizations hassan,golkar department of management, shahidbahonar university, kerman, iran abstract groupthink is a widely utilized theory in social psychology, organizational theory, group decisionmaking sciences, and management fields. In studies of social clubs and other small groups, conformity pressures have frequently been observed.
Janis that refers to a psychological phenomenon in which people strive for consensus within a group. In fact danny kahneman won the 2002 nobel prize based on his research into how. Group discussion tends to lead to more extreme opinions. Groupthink definition of groupthink by the free dictionary. This training video models eight symptoms of groupthink using dramatizations based on historical examples. From think tanks to study partners, groups have often been used as powerful sources to come up with ideas and help others to succeed. Groupthink definition and meaning collins english dictionary. Groupthink principles and fundamentals in organizations. Groupthink is a result of cohesiveness in groups, already discussed by lewin in the 1930s and is an important factor to consider in decision processes, such as workshops, meetings, conferences, committees, etc.
Groupthink is a psychological phenomenon that occurs within a group of people in which the desire for harmony or conformity in the group results in an irrational or dysfunctional decisionmaking outcome. Groupthink and the ubiquitous nature of polarized group decisionmaking. These results, however, do not represent particularly strong support for the groupthink model given that such factors would seem likely to produce defective decisionmaking even in the total absence of groupthink reactions. A behavior researched by psychologist irving janis, groupthink is what happens in small and cohesive groups when critical thinking typically loses to the forces of consensus. Groupthink a pattern of thought characterized by self deception, forced manufacture of. Groupthink, a term coined by social psychologist irving janis. Groupthink describes a decision making process, where the group members go along with what they believe is the consensus.
Cohesiveness, or the desire for cohesiveness, in a group may produce a tendency among its members to agree at all costs. Groupthink definition is a pattern of thought characterized by selfdeception, forced manufacture of consent, and conformity to group values and ethics. Considered in the dynamic of jury deliberations, the results can be disheartening. Houghton mifflin company, 1972 causes of groupthink.
The merriamwebster online dictionary 2010 defined groupthink as. Groupthink is a phenomenon developed in groups marked by the consensus of opinion without critical reasoning or evaluation of consequences. Groupthink is a phenomenon developed in groups marked by the consensus of opinion without critical reasoning or evaluation of consequences or alternatives. The effects of perceived anonymity and anonymity states on. Irving lester janis developed a study on decision making based on human social behavior in which maintaining group cohesiveness and solidarity is felt more important than considering the facts in a realistic manner. Despite its widespread appeal, the groupthink model has come under severe attack recently. Groupthink is complex enough that it was never hot in that sense. Groupthink definition, the practice of approaching problems or issues as matters that are best dealt with by consensus of a group rather than by individuals acting independently. Individual creativity, uniqueness, and independent thinking are lost in the pursuit of group cohesiveness, as are the advantages that can sometimes be. A psychological study of foreign policy decisions and fiascoes by irving l. Kendra cherry, ms, is an author, educational consultant, and speaker focused on helping students learn about psychology. Janiss basic argument was that the quality of the process of foreignpolicy making is likely to have an effect on the quality of outcomes that stem from the decision. But what emerged subsequent to groupthink was an area called judgment and decision making, which is one of the most important areas in all of psychology.
This causes the group to minimize conflict and reach a consensus. Ppt groupthink theory free download as powerpoint presentation. Groupthink is a term first used in 1972 by social psychologist irving l. Information and translations of groupthink in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web. Janis victims of groupthink paul t hart1 introduction victims of groupthink. Groupthink refers to a deterioration of mental efficiency, reality testing, and moral judgment that results from ingroup pressures.
Its the greatest obstacle to moral courage, manji says. Groupthink and the past groupthink is a term that means a group that makes a faulty decision, and it is because the group places pressures on an individual that lead to deterioration of a mental capacity, reality testing, or moral judgment what is groupthink. The act or practice of reasoning or decisionmaking by a group, especially when characterized by uncritical acceptance or conformity to prevailing points of view. More than thirtyfive years ago, irving janis published his now wellknown book victims of groupthink. Ppt groupthink powerpoint presentation free to view. Groups affected by groupthink will disregard realistic alternatives and typically choose. Janis, 1982, houghton mifflin edition, in english 2nd ed. Groupthink definition of groupthink by medical dictionary.
Listen to the audio pronunciation in the cambridge english dictionary. Eurozone groupthink and denial on a grand scale william mitchell1 university of newcastle, australia 1. Introduction thrall slavery, bondage a state of servitude or submission merriam webster online dictionary. These symptoms include the illusion of invulnerability, the belief in the inherent morality of the group, rationalization, the stereotypes of outgroups, selfcensorship, direct pressure, mindguards, and the illusion of unanimity. Baron department of psychology university of iowa running head. I use the term groupthink as a quick and easy way to refer to the mode of thinking that persons engage in when concurrenceseeking becomes so dominant in a cohesive ingroup that it tends to override realistic appraisal of alternative courses in action. Groupthink is an occurrence where by a group comes to a unanimous decision about a possible action despite the existence of fact that points to another correct course of action. Over the years, some psychologists have argued that the concept. A good way to define this term is to tell you how irving janus the main researcher on this topic describes it. Synonyms for groupthink at with free online thesaurus, antonyms, and definitions.
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