Groupthink Janis 1972 Social Scientist Goal purpose of groupthink To understand the nature of decision making in small groups How do people make decisions in smaller groups Boundary conditions include Decision making or task oriented groups work groups Groups under pressure to make decisions deadline o Group must work together to make a decision such as foreign policy o High stress Outside group deadline Within group team leader forcing you to make a decision Concepts related to groupthink e g groupthink group cohesiveness affiliative constraints homogeneity group insulation etc Groupthink the inability of a group to realistically appraise alternative courses of action due to o High cohesiveness o Desire for unanimity desire for all group members to agree Decisions may not be good if the group is under a lot of stress Group members do not look at alternatives and latch onto one decision Group Cohesiveness Affliative Constraints o The extent to which group members are willing to work together group s sense of togetherness Cohesion arises from a group s attitudes values and behaviors Members who are highly attracted to other member s attitudes values behaviors are more likely to be called cohesive o When a group member holds his or her input rather than risk rejection from the rest of the group o Generally occurs in small groups When group members do not participate fearing rejection they are likely to attach greater importance to preservation of the group than to issues under consideration Homogeneity Group Insulation o Group members who are similar to one another more conducive to groupthink o Groups are insulated from outside influences group meets so frequently that they have become immune to what goes on outside of their group experience Assumptions of groupthink 1 Conditions in group promote high cohesiveness a So cohesive that group ignores other alternatives 2 Group problem solving is a unified process affiliated constraints a Group members may be afraid to speak up 3 Groups and group decision making are complex All of the following are very difficult and complex Interpersonal communication The group must a Understand the problem b Come up with alternatives c Analyze alternatives d Choose the best alternative e Implement decision What are the differences between problem solving groups and task oriented groups Problem Solving Groups main task is to make decisions and provide policy recommendations Task Oriented Groups main goal is to work toward completing jobs assigned to them How does a vigilant decision maker make a decision How is this decision making process altered in a groupthink situation Vigilant decision making involves 1 Looking at the range of objectives group members wish to achieve 2 Developing and reviewing action plans and alternatives 3 Exploring the consequences of each alternative 4 Analyzing previously rejected action plans when new information emerges 5 Having a contingency plan for failed suggestions For groups that may be prone to groupthink 1 Require oversight and control a Groups need to hold key decision makers accountable for their actions and should be done before groups begin their deliberations about issues Accountability may take the form of a committee that serves to enforce control such as rules governance procedures decorum etc b Such committees prompt group members to challenge collective rationalizations and inaccurate 2 Embrace whistle blowing in the group group members should be encouraged to report unethical or perceptions illegal behaviors or practices to others a Avoid suppressing concerns about group processes continue to disagree and debate when no satisfactory answers are given question assumptions 3 Allow for objection violate personal conscience a Protect conscientious objectors group members who refuse to participate because it would b Groupthink may cause groups to downplay the moral implications of their decisions and conscientious objectors may be more likely to speak up if they know they can exit a conversation based on moral or ethical backgrounds c They may be able to raise doubt about the decision or even to protest it 4 Balance consensus and majority rule a Consensus requires all members to agree on a decision and may cause members to feel pressured b Work for consensus but strive for majority groups will function more like teams Information from groupthink video e g conditions that promote groupthink symptoms of groupthink Be able to provide examples from the video What are the conditions that might produce groupthink 1 High Cohesiveness highly cohesive groups exert great pressure on their members to conform to group standards unbiased 2 Group Insulation insulated from outside influences 3 No Impartial Leadership group are led by people who have personal interest in the outcome not 4 Homogeneity of Group Members group members are similar same education job resources info 5 No Decision Making Procedures people get into work groups and make a decision without any procedure come up with alternative analyze choose etc Failure to provide norms for solving group issues 6 High Stress pressure exerted on the group by issues and events both inside and outside of the group What are the symptoms of groupthink Overestimation of the Group erroneous belief that the group is more than it is o Illusions of invulnerability belief that group is special enough to overcome obstacles invincible o Belief in the inherent morality of the group assumption that group members are thoughtful and good therefore the decisions they make will be good Close Mindedness groups willingness to ignore differences in people and warning about poor group o Out Group Stereotypes stereotyped perceptions of group enemies people outside group are out decisions to get them o Collective Rationalizations situation in which group members ignore warnings that might prompt them to reconsider their thought sand actions before they reach a final decision Pressures Toward Uniformity occurs when group members go along to get along o Self censorship group members minimize their personal doubts and counterarguments o Illusion of Unanimity belief that silence equals consent or agreement o Self Appointed Mindguards individuals who protect the group from adverse information o Pressure on Dissenters direct influence on group members who provide thoughts contrary to the group s How can small groups prevent groupthink 1 Require oversight and control 2 Embrace whistle blowing in
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