What is groupthink?

Groupthink is a psychological phenomenon that occurs within a group of people when the desire for harmony or conformity in the group results in an irrational or dysfunctional decision-making outcome. Coined by social psychologist Irving Janis in 1972, groupthink is characterized by the suppression of dissenting opinions, a lack of critical analysis of alternatives, and a strong belief in the group's inherent morality.

The concept of groupthink is used to explain why groups sometimes make poor decisions, as members set aside their own personal beliefs or adopt the opinion of the rest of the group. This often happens because individuals do not want to challenge the group's consensus and risk alienating themselves from the group.

Several symptoms indicate the presence of groupthink, including:

1. Illusion of invulnerability: Members of the group may believe they are too powerful to fail or that their decisions are inherently right.
2. Collective rationalization: Group members may discount warnings and do not reconsider their assumptions.
3. Belief in inherent morality: Members believe in the rightness of their cause and therefore ignore the ethical or moral consequences of their decisions.
4. Stereotyped views of out-groups: There is a negative view of "enemy" groups, considering them too evil to negotiate with or too weak to defend themselves against.
5. Direct pressure on dissenters: Members are under pressure not to express arguments against any of the group's views.
6. Self-censorship: Doubts and deviations from the perceived group consensus are not expressed.
7. Illusion of unanimity: The majority view and judgments are assumed to be unanimous.
8. Self-appointed ‘mindguards’: Some members appoint themselves to the role of protecting the group from dissenting information or viewpoints.

Groupthink can lead to suboptimal outcomes as it prevents the group from making fully informed decisions that consider all potential alternatives and risks. It can occur in any group setting, including businesses, governments, and other organizations. To prevent groupthink, groups can encourage open and critical discussion, bring in outside opinions, and have leaders who promote an atmosphere of diversity of thought.