a presentation on the symptoms of group think

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.