a presentation on the symptoms of group think
DESCRIPTION
Symptoms of Group think, as covered in Business and Engineering ethics syllabus.It was prepared jointly by Bibhuti, Ganga and me.TRANSCRIPT
Azaz AhmedBibhuti B. BhardwajGangaram Sapkota
Presented By-
What is a Groupthink?
Groupthink is a method of thought
a way of thinking performed by a group of
individuals in an effort to curtail discord and
to arrive at a sense of accord or agreement.
Groupthink was discovered as an undesirable by-
product of group cohesiveness by a psychologist
named Irving Janis.
Groupthink was discovered as an undesirable by-
product of group cohesiveness by a psychologist
named Irving Janis.
the group is insulated
from outside opinions
there are no clear rules
for decision making
members are similar in
background
A group is vulnerable to groupthink
A group is vulnerable to groupthink
when
individuals will test, analyze and
evaluate the group ideas under
examination.
During the
Groupthink
process
Symptoms of Group Think:
Illusion of Invulnerability: Members ignore obvious danger,
take extreme risk, and are overly optimistic.
Illusion of Invulnerability: Members ignore obvious danger,
take extreme risk, and are overly optimistic.
Collective Rationalization: Members discredit and explain away
warning contrary to group thinking
Collective Rationalization: Members discredit and explain away
warning contrary to group thinking
Symptoms of Group Think:
Excessive Stereotyping: The group constructs negative
stereotypes of rivals outside the group.
Excessive Stereotyping: The group constructs negative
stereotypes of rivals outside the group.
Illusion of Morality: Members believe their decisions are morally
correct, ignoring the ethical consequences of their decisions
Self-Censorship: Members withhold their dissenting views and
counter-arguments.
Self-Censorship: Members withhold their dissenting views and
counter-arguments.
Pressure for Conformity: Members pressure any in the group who
express arguments against the group's stereotypes, illusions, or
commitments, viewing such opposition as disloyalty
Pressure for Conformity: Members pressure any in the group who
express arguments against the group's stereotypes, illusions, or
commitments, viewing such opposition as disloyalty
Symptoms of Group Think:
Illusion of Unanimity: Members perceive falsely that everyone
agrees with the group's decision; silence is seen as consent.
Illusion of Unanimity: Members perceive falsely that everyone
agrees with the group's decision; silence is seen as consent.
Mind guards: Some members appoint themselves to the role of
protecting the group from adverse information that might threaten
group complacency.
Mind guards: Some members appoint themselves to the role of
protecting the group from adverse information that might threaten
group complacency.
Symptoms of Group Think:
Examples of groupthink
Corporate Politica
l
Sports
Corporate
Swissair’s Collapse: Thought to be so financially stable that people referred to it
as the “Flying Bank.” Poor decision-making processes eventually led to its
collapse.
Symptoms: The belief that the group is invulnerable and the belief in
the morality of the group.
Lack of expertise, similar backgrounds / norms and pressure to conform
were also present.
Symptoms: The belief that the group is invulnerable and the belief in
the morality of the group.
Lack of expertise, similar backgrounds / norms and pressure to conform
were also present.
Consequences: Collapse of SwissairConsequences: Collapse of Swissair
Political
Vietnam war: Groupthink is believed to be main reason for the war. Strategic
advisors in 3 successive administrations rubber-stamped battle plans laced with
false assumptions.
Vietnam war: Groupthink is believed to be main reason for the war. Strategic
advisors in 3 successive administrations rubber-stamped battle plans laced with
false assumptions.
Symptoms: Groupthink prevented contradictory views to the war from being
expressed and subsequently evaluated.
Consequences: 58,220 United States servicemen died.
Sports
Major League Umpire Association: In 1999, the Major League Baseball
Association staged a mass resignation in a failed attempt to gain a stronger
negotiating stance.
Major League Umpire Association: In 1999, the Major League Baseball
Association staged a mass resignation in a failed attempt to gain a stronger
negotiating stance.
Symptoms: The umpires overestimated the power that they had over the
baseball league and the strength of their group’s resolve. There was the
presence of self-censorship; some umpires who disagreed with the decision to
resign failed to voice their dissent.
Consequences: Failed strategy, Major League Baseball accepted their
resignations, 22 umpires were out of jobs and eventually replaced.
Consequences: Failed strategy, Major League Baseball accepted their
resignations, 22 umpires were out of jobs and eventually replaced.
