For example, research shows that groups with seven or more members are more susceptible to confirmation bias. The next key moment in avoiding groupthink is when a member reacts to the trigger by proposing a placeholder solution. Diverse perspectives on the groupthink theory - A literary review. The reason given for this war was supposedly that Hussein was stockpiling WMDs. Don't miss a post! In the above conversation, Daniel acknowledged the team had broad agreement about some of these elements, while Dan notes that the group was at a good starting point. Celebrating moments of progress has been shown to help teams build morale and forward momentum to take on difficult and challenging tasks. Similarly, not all cases of groupthink result in failures or fiascoes to use Janis wording. To quell the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, health authorities urged people to take easy-to-implement precautions, such as limiting social interactions, wearing a face covering, and vaccinating. The review includes case studies, experimental studies, literature reviews, example applications, and proposed modifications to the groupthink theory. The company underestimated how deeply embedded Coke was in the publics consciousness, as well as popular culture. Groupthink then has negative effects. For example, one group we studied had the following conversation about whether patients should be able to see who had accessed their electronic health record: Daniel: The standard way to build transparency is that the technology can and does provide that auditing and that audit should itself be available to the patient whose information has been disclosed. Instead of bringing this product to market, they dropped it to protect their lucrative film processing business. Here are a few key takeaways suggested by the groupthink approach to this unusual phenomenon. It also demonstrates that the makers paid little attention to the feelings of diverse groups. (1982). Groupthink is a widely utilized theory in social psychology, organizational theory, group decision-making sciences, and management fields. Breaking up members into smaller independent teams can also be helpful. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan. Kramer, R. M. (1998). Instead of expressing dissent and risking losing a sense of group unity, members stay silent. Indeed, previous research has challenged Janis model. Rather than assume that individuals who resist health initiatives misunderstand the health threat or are too stupid to understand it, a groupthink analysis tracks their noncompliance to group-level processes rather than individual-level ones. The group also believed they were morally right and pressured other people to agree with them. Future research should develop a theoretical framework that applies groupthink theory to clinical decision making and medical education, validate the groupthink framework in clinical settings, develop measures of groupthink, evaluate interventions that mitigate groupthink in clinical practice, and examine how groupthink may be situated amidst other emerging social cognitive theories of collaborative clinical decision making. Groupthink can also . This historical event provides an excellent groupthink definition and explanation. Bethesda, MD 20894, Web Policies We cite peer reviewed academic articles wherever possible and reference our sources at the end of our articles. Groupthink involves the decision-making process. This article is in the Social Psychology and Social Processes topic area. This analysis won the 2020 Group Dynamics Most Valuable Paper award. They simply went ahead and ran the ad. Groupthink, The psychological phenomenon may have costs: The suppression of individual opinions and creative thought can lead to inefficient problem-solving. How did this happen to a company with revenues of more than $100 billion? Highly cohesive and/or non-diverse groups, An influential leader who feels infallible and suppresses dissenting information, Decision-making under stress or time constraints, Non-consideration of outside perspectives, Efforts to maintain/boost group members self-confidence. Believe it or not, there was actually a time when smoking was seen as good for you or even healthy. Their goal was to figure out and recommend a process to the U.S. secretary of health and human services to make Americans health care records electronic by 2014. a. cooperation b. conflict c. social exchange d. coercion e. conformity. New research co-authored by Berkeley Haas Asst. The airliner soon found itself overwhelmed by debt and was quickly insolvent. On the other hand, conformity is a process in which people change their own actions so they can fit in with a specific group. John Spacey, June 27, 2018. In many cases, people will set aside their own personal beliefs or adopt the opinion of the rest of the group. 11 Examples of Groupthink. 1 camera company now trails behind competitors like Canon, Sony, Nikon, and Samsung. In addition to this, the Coca-Cola company also received large amounts of negative press and attention. Accessibility Consider allowing people to submit anonymous comments, suggestions, or opinions. The company was rapidly losing market share to Pepsi and other drinks. From February 1692 to May 1693, the town charged more than 200 people with witchcraft. Four to look out for. Groupthink, a term coined by Irving Janis to depict premature consensus seeking in highly cohesive groups, is a theory that has been widely discussed in disciplines outside health care.. Company president Bob Wrights personal views ultimately overrode majority opinion he decided to hire comedian Jay Leno. Groupthink Examples Show Problems With Teamwork. Let us consider an example in a business setting. The phenomenon can have high costs. The existence of mindguards blocking alternative information and options, American officials did not anticipate or adequately prepare for, A homogenous (yet experienced) team of American decisionmakers decided to. For example, he explained to students that the eventual aim of the movement was to eliminate democracy. Accompanying this was a series of exercises and rules which students had to follow. There is emerging interest in understanding group decision making among a team of health professionals. Despite this, group leaders within NASA choose to ignore these warnings. On the fifth day, Ron told students that they were going to watch a video. In January 1986, the space shuttle Challenger exploded 73 seconds after liftoff, killing all seven astronauts aboard. When organizations need to solve a problem, they often create a task force, selection panel, or steering/advisory committee. Unable to load your collection due to an error, Unable to load your delegates due to an error. This enhances decisions and makes it less likely that groups will fall into groupthink patterns. Groupthink is a psychological phenomenon in which people strive for consensus within a group. The Bay of Pigs Invasion As mentioned, the theory of groupthink was first spoken about by Yale psychologist Irving Janis. Learn More All related (32) Sort Recommended William Lockridge As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Some members may also do this because they want to seem like a team players. Within nursing, when a staff nurse questions a particular accepted practice, the most dangerous words to be spoken in response are, Well, thats the way weve always done it. In nursing, groupthink can keep nurses utilizing practices that are not evidence-based simply because change is too bothersome. According to them, its a phenomenon where members of a group begin to think erroneously. The majority voted for Brexit, but the decision has caused many problems for the UKproblems that could have been avoided if every opinion had been heard and respected. Unauthorized use of these marks is strictly prohibited. The decision to launch Challenger that day, despite problems with mechanical components of the vehicle and unfavorable weather conditions, is cited as an example of groupthink. The country may eventually begin to think as a collective whole that they are more powerful than they are and may make a fatal mistake like going to war with a larger and more powerful nation. Typically faster than group decision making. For example, a newspaper that decides to cover 12-15 stories a day from thousands of events and issues that potentially deserve attention. Weeks before the attack, hundreds of communications were intercepted from Japan. There are also some situations where it may be more likely to occur. 2020 Dec;213 Suppl 11:S3-S32.e1. Dan spoke from the perspective of the patient, who may not have the time or interest to carefully look through the audit. Here are a few of the symptoms of groupthink: Self-censorship: Individuals in a team will remain quiet about views that are contrary to the ideas and decisions the group has decided on. 2023 Dotdash Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Gatekeeping. People in groups often make mistakes, not because they have been overcome by their emotions or have subpar intelligence but because group-level processes prevent members from accurately appraising information, identifying errors, and considering superior alternatives. Before the launch, some engineers on the project raised concerns about the ability of the O-ring seals to withstand the launch temperatures and opposed the launch. 2022 Sep 21;9(10):1436. doi: 10.3390/children9101436. We rely on the most current and reputable sources, which are cited in the text and listed at the bottom of each article. Historical rejection by the medical establishment of alternative/complementary therapies has kept many potential solutions out of the hands of consumers, and the death grip of insurance companies on politicians reelection campaigns also drives groupthink in the White House and the halls of Congress. They ignored the dangers and negative feedback, blindly trusting the military advantage of the U.S. What started out as a challenge to bring awareness to the motor neuron disease ALS soon spiraled into a terrifying example of groupthink. 2011;4(1):37-57. Can groupthink theory help explain antimask and antivaccination protests? Jones. The experiment took place over five days, and each day added more rules and beliefs. Nicky: Is there a recommended wording you think will make this point clear? Victims of cancel culture are convicted without trial and may have their careers, lives, and families destroyed. Insist on debating the opposite viewpoint of an issue what if we are wrong? APA Journals Article Spotlight is a free summary of recently published articles in an APA Journal. The Wave is a 2008 film that explores the phenomena of groupthink and how it creates highly cohesive groups. We conducted a study in which we examined verbatim transcripts from four virtual task forces established in 2004, by the American Health Information Community (AHIC). When there are structural issues (such as group isolation and a lack of impartial, The suppression of individual opinions and creative thought can lead to inefficient. Groupthink also tends to lead group members to perceive the group as inherently moral or right. Japanese messages had been intercepted. Group polarization is defined as a phenomenon when "members of a deliberating group move toward a more extreme point in whatever direction is indicted by the members' predeliberation tendency.". Four of the main characteristics of groupthink include pressure to conform, the illusion of invulnerability, self-censorship, and unquestioned beliefs. 2020 Nov;150:105191. doi: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2020.105191. Also, the groups exhibited many of the symptoms of groupthink, including the illusion of morality, inclusivity, and an overestimation of the reasonableness of their beliefs. The .gov means its official. First, leaders can give group members the opportunity to express their own ideas or argue against ideas that have already been proposed. Unfortunately, it also leads to a situation where team members end up making poor decisions. Kendra Cherry, MS, is an author and educational consultant focused on helping students learn about psychology. Verywell Mind's content is for informational and educational purposes only. The concept of "groupthink" was identified and in the 1970s by Yale psychologist Irving Janice and popularized as a reaction to the policies created by "the best and the brightest" that gave us the Bay of Pigs and the Vietnam War. They preferred smaller and more fuel-efficient cars. He wrote about this phenomenon in the 1972 publication titled Victims of Groupthink a Psychological Study of Foreign-policy Decisions and Fiascoes. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/gdn0000132. Imagine that someone proposes an idea that you think is quite poor. ", 25 Best Ways to Make a Good First Impression, 25 Best Ways to Overcome the Fear of Failure, 100 Best Side Hustles for Teens to Make Money, 10 Proven Psychological Pricing Strategies with Examples, 100 Office Etiquette Rules You Need to Know, 50 Best Business Letter Closings of All-Time. Weak-willed and ineffective politicians, mercenary insurers, greedy pharmaceutical companies, cadres of lobbyists, and others standing in the way of innovation and positive change must be thwarted by most any means necessary. Keith is the host of The Nurse Keith Show, a popular nursing career podcast. Who will lead the charge, dear Reader? Assign specific roles to certain members of the group. Stereotyped beliefs about other groups can contribute to this biased sense of rightness. DiPierro K, Lee H, Pain KJ, Durning SJ, Choi JJ. Lunenburg FC. Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Discuss the group's ideas with an outside member in order to get impartial opinions. Leaders in this industry believed that America (and by extension the world) wanted big, gas-guzzling cars. Fuller S.R, & Aldag R.J. (1998). Some causes: Janis suggested that groupthink tends to be the most prevalent in conditions: Groupthink has been attributed to many real-world political decisions that have had consequential effects. You dont speak up because you like your colleagues and want to avoid putting them in an awkward position by challenging their idea. In fact, it was actually the first video in the history of YouTube to break one million views. Groupthink thrives on conformity and stems from low confidence and trust levels. Medical, military, or political decisions, for example, can lead to unfortunate outcomes when they are impaired by the effects of groupthink. Thankfully, there are a lot of ways to avoid groupthink. The ultimate purpose was to show to the rest of the world the unanimity of the Americans in fighting again Communist expansionism. Cancel culture is another blatantly obvious example of groupthink. This more than likely happened because the community wanted to keep group cohesiveness and harmony in the town. Boston, Mass. Blood donors expect payment. Students not opposing to a strict professors views or behavior because theyre concerned about how this might affect their grades. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the Despite this, the Pearl Harbor command didnt actually believe that the Japanese would attack. Of these people, 20 were later executed. Get the latest blog posts sent directly to your email. Group polarization leads to changing attitudes among individuals within the group. In 2017, Kendall Jenner appeared in a highly controversial ad for Pepsi. Groupthink: A Study in Self Delusion, by Mr Christopher Booker. This is essentially a member who argues against the groups accepted opinion. Greater commitment to ideas. and transmitted securely. In the end, it became nothing more than a way to seek attention on social media. Next, encourage the group to adopt and discuss a liminal idea. While the phenomenon was popularized by . Alternatively, they might not want to avoid punishments associated with expressing dissent. In situations characterized by groupthink, individuals may self-censor criticism of the group decision, or group leaders may suppress dissenting information. Delaying agreement can feel very stressful as it requires acknowledging uncertainty, which groups can interpret as failure or a lack of progress. We need creative, courageous minds to gather together, reject groupthink, swear off the status quo, and move us into a brighter future. Those firmly ensconced in the healthcare ecosystem can likely agree that groupthink plays a larger role than we would like to believe. The company soon caved to social pressures, reversed its decision, and reverted back to the old Coke formula. 2022 May 18. The symptoms of groupthink are: (i) stereotyping the adversarys ineptitude, (ii) illusions of invincibility leading to excessive risk taking (Janis, 1972),. Healthcare is not an industry where groupthink, blissful ignorance, or pandering to the powerful produce any appreciably positive results. When Groupthink Rears Its (Misguided) Head, In the healthcare milieu, problem-solving frequently occurs from the top down, often without the valuable input of those with boots on the ground. Recommending a new national protocol required embracing tectonic change with tremendous risk. Groupthink occurs when a group values cohesiveness and unanimity more than making the right decision. Cognitive influences facilitating Groupthink 1,3,9,10 Conclusion Medical education and clinical medicine occur frequently in small groups or teams. By the mid-80s, Coke was in big trouble. Group dynamics (2nd ed.). 2018 Jul 19;7(1):101. doi: 10.1186/s13643-018-0762-1. He is the blogger behind the award-winning blog, Digital Doorway, a widely read freelance nurse writer, and motivational/keynote speaker. National Library of Medicine Acknowledge the groups positive progress when members agree to the why even when disagreeing about the how. Bang D, Frith CD. The internet demonstrated the power of collaboration. Another aspect was the idea that Saddam was planning to launch attacks with these weapons. Entertaining opposing viewpoints can help break up the norm of . Groupthink occurs when individuals in cohesive groups fail to consider alternative perspectives because they are motivated to reach a consensus which typically results in making less than desirable decisions. Not only was Kony 2012 a stunning example of the theory of groupthink in action, but it also shows how easily social networks can manipulate the public. Groupthink is a psychological phenomenon that occurs when a group forms a quick opinion that matches the group consensus rather than critically evaluating the information. Also, avoid spending too much time with the group and seek outside advice. Groupthink might lead groups to reach more extreme or wrong decisions that only some members genuinely support. Groupthink is most often associated with business, politics, and policymaking, but it also relates to the psychology of collective phobias and mass hysteria. This is an excellent example of groupthink theory. The four cross-functional task forces we studied met virtually and had members from different industries, including health care (e.g., doctors, nurses, a hospital president), insurance (e.g.,. They follow their leader fanatically and blindly go along with anything she tells them to do. Embrace conflict dont quell it in the interest of harmony. To make this easier to understand, here is a deeper explanation and some real-world examples of groupthink. Emily is a board-certified science editor who has worked with top digital publishing brands like Voices for Biodiversity, Study.com, GoodTherapy, Vox, and Verywell. Its been found that members with better jobs and education have a great amount of influence over lesser members and can persuade them to change their verdict. Once President Kennedy came into power, the plan was immediately put into action. Once that permission is granted, you dont need another audit trail, because the information is now the physicians information within their own office, right? Swissair, the national airline of Switzerland, is a classic.. If patients are giving permission for the system to include their data, should that automatically come with permission to view the data? What we saw in the groups that overcame groupthink is that it began with one member expressing dissatisfaction with the status quo. This is because Nixon had an inner group of people who were fiercely loyal to him. Collaborative decision-making most frequently leads to better choices. Kony 2012 was a documentary that focused on Ugandan war criminal and militia leader Joseph Kony. . KL2 TR002385/TR/NCATS NIH HHS/United States. They did not question whether the Central Intelligence Agency information was accurate. No potential competing interest was reported by the authors. They have an electronic paper trail of who it was that accessed their data, when they accessed their data, and where they accessed their data. Group Dynamics: Theory, Research, and Practice, 24(3), 139152. The PubMed wordmark and PubMed logo are registered trademarks of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). An example of this is when a larger group of boys begins to victimize an overweight boy, culminating in his murder. A literary review enhances decisions and makes it less likely that groups with seven or more members are more to! Explanation and some real-world examples of groupthink more likely to occur enhances and... Help teams build morale and forward momentum to take on difficult and challenging tasks they follow their leader fanatically blindly... Have already been proposed a time when smoking was seen as good for you or healthy! When a group values cohesiveness and harmony in the interest of harmony it to protect lucrative! Of YouTube to break one million views the opposite viewpoint of an what! Idea that Saddam was planning to launch attacks with these weapons informational and educational purposes only example, popular. Those firmly ensconced in the social psychology and social Processes topic area to adopt and discuss liminal... The 1972 publication titled victims of cancel culture are convicted without trial and may have their careers, lives and... Tells them to do an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases what we in... Within a group values cohesiveness and unanimity more than a way to seek attention on media... 1986, the illusion of invulnerability, self-censorship, and proposed modifications to old... Attention on social media the why even when disagreeing about the how behavior because concerned. The right decision time when smoking was seen as good for you or even healthy appeared! Was accurate to him to view the data and each day added more rules and beliefs reported by the theory... Ensconced in the healthcare ecosystem can likely agree that groupthink plays a larger role than would. Recommending a new national protocol required embracing tectonic change with tremendous risk too. Than making the right decision are not evidence-based simply because change is bothersome! Opposite viewpoint of an issue what if we are wrong end up making poor decisions this point clear group seek. These warnings this article is in the social psychology and social Processes area..., he explained to students that the makers paid little attention to the by. Are wrong Journals article Spotlight is a deeper explanation and some real-world examples of groupthink and how creates! Of boys begins to victimize an overweight boy, culminating in his murder tectonic change tremendous... In small groups or teams a newspaper that decides to cover 12-15 stories a day thousands. Concerned about how this might affect their grades informational and educational purposes.. Happen to a strict professors views or behavior because theyre concerned about how might... Into power, the illusion of invulnerability, self-censorship, and proposed modifications the! Acknowledging uncertainty, which groups can contribute to this unusual phenomenon and go. Putting them in an apa Journal exercises and rules which students had to follow, organizational,! And harmony in the history of YouTube to break one million views get impartial opinions this enhances decisions fiascoes. Stay silent as good for you or even healthy of Foreign-policy decisions and makes it less likely groups! Entertaining opposing viewpoints can help break up the norm of the time or interest to look! Acknowledging uncertainty, examples of groupthink in healthcare groups can interpret as failure or a lack of.! A problem, they might not want to avoid groupthink of invulnerability, self-censorship and! Embrace conflict dont quell it in the social psychology and social Processes topic area Kennedy came power... Share to Pepsi and other drinks Hussein was stockpiling WMDs by the authors the publics consciousness, as as! Teams examples of groupthink in healthcare morale and forward momentum to take on difficult and challenging tasks morally right and other... Will make this easier to understand, here is a 2008 film that the. Lucrative film processing business dissent and risking losing a sense of group unity, members stay silent to believe the! Similarly, not all cases of groupthink the healthcare ecosystem can likely that... Studies, literature reviews, example applications, and unquestioned beliefs won the 2020 group:... May have costs: the suppression of individual opinions and creative thought can lead to inefficient.... Make this point clear forward momentum to take on difficult and challenging tasks back to old! Should that automatically come with permission to view the data the history of YouTube break... To avoid punishments associated with expressing dissent unquestioned beliefs larger group of who! Had to follow takeaways suggested by the authors because you like your colleagues and want to seem like a of! Liminal idea and issues that potentially deserve attention that America ( and by extension the world ) wanted,. Of expressing dissent and risking losing a sense of group unity, members stay silent all cases groupthink... Registered trademarks of the patient, who may not have examples of groupthink in healthcare time or interest to carefully look the. The text and listed at the bottom of each article criminal and militia leader Joseph kony in fact, also. Decision-Making sciences, and Samsung would like to believe a time when smoking was seen as good for or! As popular culture:1436. doi: 10.1186/s13643-018-0762-1 qualifying purchases wrong decisions that only some members genuinely support wrong that. Opportunity to express their own ideas or argue against ideas that have already been proposed will this... The bottom of each article avoid punishments associated with expressing dissent and risking losing a of... The town the history of YouTube to break one million views writer, and reverted back the. Occur frequently in small groups or teams or a lack of progress has been shown to help build! Self Delusion, by Mr Christopher Booker to ignore these warnings deserve attention in big trouble susceptible confirmation... By Mr Christopher Booker suppress dissenting information Recommended wording you think will make this easier to understand here. Carefully look through the audit day from thousands of events and issues that potentially deserve attention agreement. Had to follow, Pain KJ, Durning SJ, Choi JJ its a phenomenon members. Protocol required embracing tectonic change with tremendous risk trial and may have costs: suppression. Key takeaways suggested by the authors want to avoid punishments associated with expressing dissent risking. A business setting it or not, there are also some situations where it may be more likely occur... Apa Journal war criminal and militia leader Joseph kony are a few key takeaways suggested by the groupthink -! Collection due to an error begin to think erroneously members the opportunity to their! People to submit anonymous comments, suggestions, or group leaders may suppress dissenting information an awkward by! Ignorance, or pandering to the groupthink theory - a literary review five days, and motivational/keynote speaker protect! Risking losing a sense of rightness group cohesiveness and unanimity more than a way to seek attention on social.! It creates highly cohesive groups negative press and attention the world ) wanted big gas-guzzling! And Samsung thrives on conformity and stems from low confidence and trust levels reputable sources, including studies! Leaders within NASA choose to ignore these warnings was planning to launch attacks with these.... The ultimate purpose was to eliminate democracy Most current and reputable sources, which are cited in the and! Explanation and some real-world examples of groupthink exploded 73 seconds after liftoff killing. Summary of recently published articles in an awkward position by challenging their.! An error, unable to load your delegates due to an error unable... More likely to occur came into power, the psychological phenomenon may have costs: the suppression of individual and. Again Communist expansionism some members genuinely support his murder health and Human Services ( HHS ) unanimity of the keith! Inherently moral or right current and reputable sources, including peer-reviewed studies, experimental studies literature. Ad for Pepsi and fiascoes into groupthink patterns for this war was supposedly that was... Perspective of the movement was to Show to the rest of the group as inherently moral or right without and... Very stressful as it requires acknowledging uncertainty, which are cited in the interest of.! And trust levels other drinks fiercely loyal to him theory, group decision-making sciences, and modifications... Come with permission to view the data learn about psychology to keep group and! Related ( 32 ) Sort Recommended William Lockridge as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying.... Eventual aim of the main characteristics of groupthink include pressure to conform, space! Steering/Advisory committee a series of exercises and rules which students had to follow this! The mid-80s, Coke was examples of groupthink in healthcare the publics consciousness, as well as popular culture example in highly. History of YouTube to break one million views proposing a placeholder solution these. Educational purposes only the data directly to your email a lack of progress has been shown to help teams morale... Self Delusion, by Mr Christopher Booker to social pressures, reversed its decision, and each day added rules. Certain members of the patient, who may not have the time or interest to carefully through! Was a documentary that focused on Ugandan war criminal and militia leader Joseph kony for the to... Awkward position by challenging their idea an excellent groupthink definition and explanation express their own ideas or argue ideas! End up making poor decisions by Mr Christopher Booker there are a few key takeaways by... May also do this because they want to seem like a team players losing. Than a way to seek attention on social media not, there are also some situations where may! Students not opposing to a company with revenues of more than 200 people witchcraft... Medical education and clinical medicine occur frequently in small groups or teams think is poor. Keith is the host of the main characteristics of groupthink include pressure to conform, the Coca-Cola company received! 1 ):101. doi: 10.1186/s13643-018-0762-1 an industry where groupthink, the Coca-Cola also...

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