The term Groupthink was coined by social psychologist Irving Janis (1972). It is when a group makes faulty decisions because group pressures lead to a deterioration of “mental efficiency, reality testing, and moral judgment”. Groups affected by groupthink ignore alternatives and tend to take irrational actions that dehumanize other groups. A group is especially vulnerable to groupthink when its members are similar in background, when the group is insulated from outside opinions, and when there are no clear rules for decision making. It is like peer pressure on steriods.
Share an example of Groupthink in action that you know from history, personal experience or observation. Because we are social beings, we are all prone to Groupthink. What might we do to prevent becoming prey to the power of Groupthink?
Share an example of Groupthink in action that you know from history, personal experience or observation. Because we are social beings, we are all prone to Groupthink. What might we do to prevent becoming prey to the power of Groupthink?
A perfect example of this group thinking is during the time period where slavery, racism, and segregation was taking a toll on minorities in the United States. The most obvious that anyone could point out is the whites and the blacks. They were discriminated against terribly and the whites thought it was their right to treat them like that. They did not think for themselves. They were just following the crowd.
ReplyDeleteI recently saw a new where a teen ager suffered a lot because of bulling. A group of class mate took bad decisions and made a big pressure over her, and this can become a tragedy. I think it is very important to know that if a group take wrong desicions and you know that it is not according to the moral, much better be secure of your thoughts and talk to your parents or some teacher or religious person who can help you and help you to see that the words and attitudes of that group will not rule your life or affect your happiness.
ReplyDeleteAnother moment in the United States' history that shows a little of this was the Salem Witch Burnings. Although fueled by religous fanatics, dozens of women (and men in some cases) were tortured to death because the Townspeople went along with a bad decision.
ReplyDeleteI believe everytime i've worked in a group i have been a victim of groupthink. I feel as if three heads are only as smart as the smartest head. I am not a fan of group work.
ReplyDeleteI am not totally against group work, but I am aware of how hard it is to find people that once working together listen and respect different opinions.
ReplyDeleteMy last experience working in a group was in class to take the test. I am slower than the other girls to read, so they would be discussing the answer while I was still reading.... so I had only two choices go with the flow or ask them to go back and discuss the question - what I did in most of them!!
Groupthink, to me, has to do with many factors. One being the desire of being in a group, being accepted, so people "go with the flow!"
I always wondered how people could stand by and let a movement like the Nazi party rise to power. In 8th grade, I read a novel called “The Wave” by Morton Rhue. The book was a social experiment put on by a high school teacher to show students how easily such a movement can gain momentum. It was eerie to read. Eventually, when the power it possessed made itself apparent, the experiment was ended by the teacher. He called an assembly similar to a Nazi rally to reveal what the students have become a part of and how it relates to Hitler’s rise to power.
ReplyDeleteThroughout history, this type of movement has shown its ugly face. Even today, with ethnic cleansing occurring in Sudan, Uganda, and other regions all over the world; how do we talk to people that have made up their minds? How do we explain that while receiving power, security, profit, and a sense of accomplishment they are committing the most horrific crimes against humanity? Frightening…
I believe that the best example of “Groupthink” I can explain is that of my Government classes. In these classes we tend to participate in many group discussions. Some time the discussions are very heated and can get out of hand other times they are simple and to the point. Every time that we discuss politics, the groups are always pulled in different directions. Some think that our government is doing fine and should keep moving forward. Then there are those sitting on the other side of the table that thinks in a totally different way. The differences are what makes group thinking I good idea, many people with many different ideas, backgrounds, and values are great. However learning how to come up with the same ideas in group thinking, by your self is a way to break away from depending on others. Being able to think on your own and come up with your own ideas are good attributes that a person should have.
ReplyDeleteAHHH KAREN I JUST WROTE A HUGE POST AND THE BLOG DROPPED IT.. ARGHHH
ReplyDeletelets try this again.
I agree with austin, the first group that came to mind was the Nazi regime. its amazing to think that a group as morally irresponsible as the Nazi's could garner as much support as it did during the middle 20th century. However, when you have a group of people like the germans, who in the recent history before Hitler came to power were in experiencing dire circumstances. Poverty, famine and lack of national support was widespread before the Nazi's and Hitler's Regime gave them hope and respect on a global scale. His movement was supported because he let the Germans feel significant and important and feel like times were changing for the bettter. It sort of gave the germans a reason to ignore the greater atrocities that were being committed daily. My ex was of german decent and her grandfather lived in Germany during the Nazi regime. Although he understands in hindsight how horrible HItler and the Nazi ideologue was, he also remembers the hope and change that was brought on by the government. Its crazy but still after all these years he still kind of justifies his support for a horrible person. Its still identifiable in his mind as a time when his German people were powerful and respected. Its sad to say but evil can always manifest itself through justification and you just have to try and keep your morals straight.
There is a particularly annoying set of train tracks near my home. A mile or so down the track the trains pass through a relay station...sometimes they shoot through, slow down, stop right in front of you and even back up. You never know. I have pulled up to many lines in the past and put my vehicle in park, wondering like everyone else how long it will take. We all sit there listening to our radios or checking our phones....impatiently waiting. Some creep slowly up, others hold their ground. Then from somewhere up in the line a car turns out and guns its engine, heading to an underpass a few miles up the road. The mass exodus begins and I pull closer to the cross-guards and the slow moving train. (There goes Hitler.....with his Nazi's in tow) I just watch the rail cars pass and check out the free art(graffiti)show.
ReplyDeleteyea i have to agree with my homies the first thing that came to my mind was the Nazis regime. I've experienced group think as well in my lame high school of course there were groups of carbon copies the "cool kids" and the "skaters" or freaks. Of course i was not a cool kid and i hung out with the "freaks" and i dressed soooo ridiculous lol and i was bullied and teases for it. I think we can avoid being receptive to group think by keeping a open mind and being strong enough to stand up for what is right and make your own decisions not fall for others "justification".
ReplyDeleteTo prevent becoming prey of Groupthinking, we must have clear criterio of the good and bad and rule our decisions for the universal ethical values. Although the group can make pressure on someone,it is better to be leader of your life, respecting your values and do not dehumanize your self to be part of a bad decision group. We have to remember that every decision has positive or negative consequences.
ReplyDeleteOne example of groupthink would be these gangs that have been around for awhile. People go along with them not only because of peer pressure but also because of fear. Alot of teenagers join because of a need to belong and the they have of fear of being alone, so they go along with their "group" no matter what the conseqences are.
ReplyDeleteOne example of group think that I find can be bad is certain forms of religion. While I have no problems with religion as a whole some times I feel that certain ones discourage anyone from questioning things and kinda forces everyone to think one way.
ReplyDeleteTo me this is one of the most dangerous forms of group think because a majority of people believe in a higher being. Seeing that, people use this as a way to manipulate people into thinking malicous acts are actually in the name of God.
This is seen in the crusades, killing of native americas, slavery and other horrific events in history. All of these were justified by religion and if people would have questioned what religous leaders who were telling them alot of that garbage, then a majority of these tragic events in history would have never happened.
A good example of groupthink were the KKK and how they acted towards African American people because of their differences and moral values.To prevent from groupthink we must learn to accept each others values.
ReplyDelete