tendency for all members in a small
close-knit group to think alike, seek concurrence, and discourage dissent/disagreement
individuals do not
want to be singled out as “different”
Antecedent conditions:
- Decision makers constitute a cohesive group
- structural faults of the organization
- Provocative situational context
Symptoms of groupthink (3)
- Overestimation of the group
- Closed-mindedness
- Pressure toward uniformity
Type I: Overestimation of the group - symptoms of group think
- . illusion of invulnerability
- belief in inherent mortality of group
Type II: Closed-mindedness - Symptoms of groupthink:
- collective rationalization
- stereotyping of outgroups
Type III: Pressure toward uniformity - Symptoms of groupthink
- self-censorship
- direct pressure on dissenters
- self-appointed “mindguards”
- illusion of unanimity
Preventing groupthink
- critical evaluator
- impartial
- independent groups
- subgroups
- trusted associates
- outside experts
- devil’s advocate
- rivals
- “second chance
Preventing groupthink - critical evaluators
leader should assign role of critical evaluator to each group member- encourage group to voice objections and doubts; leader must accept criticism of their own judgments
impartial - Preventing groupthink
leader must be impartial when assigning task to a group
independent groups - Preventing groupthink
set up several independent groups to work on the same problem, each under a different leader
subgroups - Preventing groupthink
divide into subgroups which meet separately, then come together to discuss any differences
trusted associates - Preventing groupthink
have members discuss group’s deliberations with trusted associates, and report their reactions back to the group
outside experts - Preventing groupthink
. invite outside experts to challenge group’s views
devil’s advocate - Preventing groupthink
appoint one member as a “devil’s advocate” who voices policy alternatives to counter confirmation bias
rivals - Preventing groupthink
attend to warning signals and possible intentions of rivals
second chance - Preventing groupthink
after achieving consensus, have a “second chance” meeting for members to express remaining doubts
