Groupthink – how safe are we from it?
I am concerned that the MENZ website group may be suffering from Groupthink?
The following description is extracted from Wikipedia:
Groupthink is a type of thought exhibited by group members who try to minimize conflict and reach consensus without critically testing, analyzing, and evaluating ideas. During Groupthink, members of the group avoid promoting viewpoints outside the comfort zone of consensus thinking. A variety of motives for this may exist such as a desire to avoid being seen as foolish, or a desire to avoid embarrassing or angering other members of the group. Groupthink may cause groups to make hasty, irrational decisions, where individual doubts are set aside, for fear of upsetting the group’s balance. The term is frequently used pejoratively, with hindsight.
Origin
The term was coined in 1952 by William H. Whyte in Fortune:
“Groupthink – a working definition is in order. We are not talking about mere instinctive conformity – it is, after all, a perennial failing of mankind. What we are talking about is a rationalized conformity – an open, articulate philosophy which holds that group values are not only expedient but right and good as well. ”Irving Janis, who did extensive work on the subject:
“A mode of thinking that people engage in when they are deeply involved in a cohesive in-group, when the members’ strivings for unanimity override their motivation to realistically appraise alternative courses of action. ”The word groupthink was intended to be reminiscent of Newspeak words such as “doublethink” and “duckspeak”, from George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four.
Causes of groupthink
Highly cohesive groups are much more likely to engage in groupthink. The closer they are, the less likely they are to raise questions to break the cohesion. Although Janis sees group cohesion as the most important antecedent to groupthink, he states that it will not invariably lead to groupthink: ‘It is a necessary condition, but not a sufficient condition’ (Janis, Victims of Groupthink, 1972).According to Janis, (a) group cohesion will only lead to groupthink if one of the following two antecedent conditions is present: (b) Structural faults in the organisation: insulation of the group, lack of tradition of impartial leadership, lack of norms requiring methodological procedures, homogeneity of members’ social background and ideology. (c) Provocative situational context: high stress from external threats, recent failures, excessive difficulties on the decision-making task, moral dilemmas.
Social psychologist Clark McCauley’s three conditions under which groupthink occurs:
* Directive leadership.
* Homogeneity of members’ social background and ideology.
* Isolation of the group from outside sources of information and analysis.Symptoms of groupthink
In order to make groupthink testable, Irving Janis devised eight symptoms that are indicative of groupthink (1977).
1. A feeling of invulnerability creates excessive optimism and encourages risk taking.
2. Discounting warnings that might challenge assumptions.
3. An unquestioned belief in the group’s morality, causing members to ignore the consequences of their actions.
4. Stereotyped views of enemy leaders.
5. Pressure to conform experienced by members of the group who might otherwise disagree.
6. Shutting down of ideas that deviate from the apparent group consensus.
7. An illusion of unanimity with regards to going along with the group.
8. Mindguards – self-appointed members who shield the group from dissenting opinions.Classic cases of groupthink
Two classical cases studies by sociologists and psychologists are NASA prior to the Challenger disaster and the presidential cabinet during crisis periods. Both of these cases were government organization under extremely high stress, with direct leadership, a situation some theorists have stated contributes to groupthink. NASA actually funded sociologists in the aftermath of the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster to examine how the groups failed in preventing the disaster .
Space Shuttle Challenger disaster (1986)
The Space Shuttle Challenger disaster is a classic case of groupthink. The Challenger exploded shortly after liftoff on January 28, 1986. The launch had been originally scheduled for January 22, but a series of problems pushed back the launch date. Scientists and engineers throughout NASA were eager to get the mission underway. The day before the launch an engineer brought up a concern about the o-rings in the booster rockets.
Several conference calls were held to discuss the problem and the decision to go ahead with the launch was agreed upon. The group involved in making the Challenger decision exhibited several of the symptoms of groupthink. They ignored warnings that contradicted the group’s goal. The goal was to get the launch off as soon as possible. They also suffered from a feeling of invulnerability, and therefore failed to completely examine the risks of their decision. Another factor that had suppressed the few engineers who were “going against the grain” and “sounding the alarm” was that all eyes were on NASA not to delay the launch and that Congress was seeking to earmark large funding to NASA given the large amount of publicity on the Teacher in Space program. These misjudgments led to the tragic loss of several astronauts, and a huge black mark on the space shuttle’s (then) near perfect safety record.
Bay of Pigs invasion (1959-1962)
Another closely-studied case of groupthink is the 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion [3]. The main idea of the Bay of Pigs invasion was to train a group of Cuban exiles to invade Cuba and spark a revolution against Fidel Castro’s communist regime.The plan was fatally flawed from the beginning, but none of President Kennedy’s top advisers spoke out against the plan.[citation needed] Kennedy’s advisers also had the main characteristics of groupthink; they had all been educated in the country’s top universities, causing them to become a very cohesive group. They were also all afraid of speaking out against the plan, because they did not want to upset the president. The President’s brother, Robert Kennedy, took on the role of a “mind guard”, telling dissenters that it was a waste of their time, because the President had already made up his mind.[4]
Preventing groupthink
According to Irving Janis, decision making groups are not necessarily doomed to groupthink. He also claims that there are several ways to prevent it. Janis devised seven ways of preventing groupthink :1. Leaders should assign each member the role of “critical evaluator”. This allows each member to freely air objections and doubts.
2. Higher-ups should not express an opinion when assigning a task to a group.
3. The organization should set up several independent groups, working on the same problem.
4. All effective alternatives should be examined.
5. Each member should discuss the group’s ideas with trusted people outside of the group.
6. The group should invite outside experts into meetings. Group members should be allowed to discuss with and question the outside experts.
7. At least one group member should be assigned the role of Devil’s advocate. This should be a different person for each meeting.By following these guidelines, groupthink can be avoided. After the Bay of Pigs fiasco, John F. Kennedy sought to avoid groupthink during the Washington Missile Crisis. During meetings, he invited outside experts to share their viewpoints, and allowed group members to question them carefully. He also encouraged group members to discuss possible solutions with trusted members within their separate departments, and he even divided the group up into various sub-groups, in order to partially break the group cohesion. JFK was deliberately absent from the meetings, so as to avoid pressing his own opinion. Ultimately, the Cuban missile crisis was resolved peacefully, thanks in part to these measures.
Criticism
Robert S. Baron contends that recent investigation and testing has not been able to defend the connection between certain antecedents with groupthink. This may simply be due to the fact that the groupthink theory is very difficult to test in a lab situation using the scientific method. Alfinger and Esser also came to the same conclusion. After ending their study, they stated that better methods of testing Janis’ symptoms were needed. It is impossible to create in labs the same conditions under which important government groups work. It is impossible to create the same levels of stress and pressure experienced by high level government officials, with the future of an entire nation hanging in the balance. Baron also contends that the groupthink model applies to a far wider range of groups than Janis originally concluded. This contention remains to be tested.
I am concerned that the MENZ website group may be suffering from Groupthink?
Is this group cohesiveness reducing our ability to collect evidence from a broad range of sources, to honestly weigh all of the evidence, to examine issues about protecting our children and giving our children the best upbringing?
What can we do to improve our breadth of perspective?
Can we learn from the initiatives that the familycaught is taking, courtesy of Judge Boshier?
President Kennedy applied several good ideas in his management of the Washington Missile Crisis (the Cubans weren’t particularly concerned, so it must be called the Washington Missile crisis – they were concerned!).
“Isolation of the group from outside sources of information and analysis.” Part of the solution must lie in listening carefully.
In your experience, is the familycaught a listening and learning organisation?
How quickly are we learning from our experiences?
If we put more pressure onto familycaught, possibly they will become more defensive and thus never ever get any better?
Lots of crushing hugs, love and kisses, MurrayBacon the challenger.
Groupthink is a theory that was developed in hindsight. All of the examples given in the original theory were offered post hoc which is problematic. Since its inception it has been revisted and studies have raised viable questions about the validity of the assumptions made in groupthink
Internal Consistency – Groupthink is argued by many researchers. Some agree but new research suggests that groupthink should be re-developed because it is not matching the current research on effective decision-making and cohesiveness.
Heuristic Provocativeness – There are several new hypothesis that can be offered about what happens in cohesive groups. Researchers are working on new ideas as we speak.
Organizing Power – A major drawback on groupthink is there was never a specific set of criteria of what groupthink is so that it could be tested. There were only symptoms to be interrupted by the researcher looking a group’s decision.
Remember Demming, Murrary – focus on the process; not the outcome of the process.
Regards
Scrap
Comment by Scrap_The_CSA — Thu 13th September 2007 @ 2:09 pm
It appears that two comments from Ben Easton have been deleted.
As much as I may disagree with Ben and get frustrated by his continual highjacking of threads voices of difference are important.
Regards
Scrap
Comment by Scrap_The_CSA — Thu 13th September 2007 @ 2:32 pm
Thank you Scrap,
in fact up to 6 of my posts have been removed and each of them is critical to having reached a position where Murray has posted independently my last comment as though if an item directly for discussion.
I note, as consistent with all of these events that the primary post which I challenge remains, and the comments I make, I would presume for their accuracy have been deleted.
Comment by Benjamin Easton — Thu 13th September 2007 @ 3:31 pm
While your at making decisions, can you please include Waitakere.
Comment by julie — Thu 13th September 2007 @ 6:04 pm
I (somewhat randomly) delete comments when they have absolutely no relationship to the post, and Ben is a repeat and annoying offender. It is NOT appropriate to use MENZ for personal communications like the one of his which I just removed from this page.
There are a few people unprepared get with the programme who have been banned completely. Please note that the one MENZ rule which you don’t have to scroll to see is:
Further down the page:
I never intentionally remove comments because I disagree with them (although I often don’t understand what Ben is writing about); but free speech and open discussion needs to have some boundaries to be useful.
Discussion environments where “anything goes” discourage participation by anyone other than the most motivated and fanatic radicals. I think Murrray’s challenge has considerable validity – men with moderate viewpoints continually withdraw because they are not treated respectfully.
Comment by JohnP — Fri 14th September 2007 @ 11:45 am
Thanks John,
My comment was not intended as a crticism and I apologise if it appeared as such.
I agree with your observation and thank you for your clarification.
I also think there is validity to Murray’s view but (as comment 1 shows) acknowledge that there are some “issues” with quantifying group-think.
Regards
Scrap
Comment by Scrap_The_CSA — Fri 14th September 2007 @ 12:05 pm
Dear Mr_or_Mrs Scrap_The_CSA,
thank you for your adding that Groupthink lacks rigorous a priori identification and thus the concept lacks some justification.
Nonetheless, the remedies proposed are still relevant and extremely usefull, as the wiki examples show. Maybe, in challenging situations, the remedies suggested are essential.
Most importantly of all, you identified that my targets were ourselves plus familycaught. This is surely the most important point.
I deleted Ben’s posts, as they become redundant after I boiled them down to their essentials and reposted into a fresh thread. This is obviously what Ben should have done himself! I have always enjoyed deleting his posts, when totally off topic or abusive and I expect that I will continue to do this, if it should ever be required.
Clarity does not come accidentally for me. Often, I find it necessary to pre-write in a text editor, print and read, for a day or several. When I don’t show this patience, alas it shows!
I do accept your criticism, of my deleting. Therefore, I am returning your offered apology, unused and undamaged.
I hope that we can all, before criticising the familycaught, look with a fair set of eyes, at our own part in this debacle and the quality of our performance now, best regards, MurrayBacon.
Comment by MurrayBacon — Fri 14th September 2007 @ 6:45 pm
Murray,
I have not proffered an apology to you. My words were addressed to John P.
Your inability to accept criticism while claiming the authority to deliver it is amusing given the subject of your post.
Sums it up Murray.
You speak for yourself Murray no one else. I am not part of your “our”
Regards
Scrap
Comment by Scrap_The_CSA — Fri 14th September 2007 @ 8:14 pm
Groupthink.
Here is an example to me.
The Galileo effect.
Humans putting themselves at the centre of the universe.
Then claim there was a Big Bang.
At the centre of the universe.
Maybe true, no matter how often.
Galileo or others proves that wrong.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/space-plane-gigantic-stratolaunch-aircraft-makes-second-test-flight/UHXDV2Y5LBS2Y7JYRUTXNKI5EY/
Getting into orbit.
So Humans have this fixation with Rockets.
They are effective.
But it clearly cannot be the only option.
I think about 2 other ways of doing it.
This plane method is one of them.
In my mind.
The carrier plane takes off.
Using conventional jets.
Reaches, max altitude, max speed.
Then engages, small rockets.
To go much higher, escaping atmosphere, at peak velocity.
Obviously jets are turned off.
The cargo released.
And glides to a runway.
Using it jets for landing.
The cargo.
At high velocity.
High altitude.
Engages its rockets.
Boosting into orbit.
Technically the cargo could itself be a return to earth plane.
With its orbit being a few days to failure.
IE a few dozen orbits.
The Payload.
Being a third stage.
So what is the groupthink.
Rockets.
Obviously the highly recycled versions are great.
Landing themselves.
To be used again.
A workhorse method.
Groupthink makes the other options harder develop.
Got to see what I think will be the common method.
In many decades time.
Being built.
As testing platforms.
Multi Stage Aircraft/Spacecraft.
I have another idea.
But Humans would likely die.
So cargo only.
Comment by DJ Ward — Fri 30th April 2021 @ 6:00 pm
Groupthink.
If the groupthink, is not true.
Like light and gravity travels forever.
Clearly wrong.
Poisoned thinking.
Inventing explanations, for observation.
Then can’t explain why the explanation is absent, of observation.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/124995428/sacked-canterbury-health-officer-alistair-humphrey-temporarily-reinstated-by-employment-court
So actually false groupthink has taken place.
How else do you get to a $180 million dollar loss.
The blind leading the blind, into deficits.
Not surprising people jumped the sinking ship.
The commander locked in his cabin, by mutiny.
He wears the wrong hat, of imaginary offence.
A pet dog, oh the depravity.
Free to command, the sinking ship, by justice.
The audience watches from shore.
It cannot end well, for the captain.
What’s interesting to watch is employee rights.
Maybe when the big boss gets, targeted.
By a bureaucratic lynch mob.
And wins, should we not then all win.
The same rights.
Think positive thoughts.
Groupthink.
He saves the ship.
In spite of them.
………….
Highly unlikely.
Is he not part responsible for the deficit.
Culpable.
Comment by DJ Ward — Fri 30th April 2021 @ 6:54 pm
Congratulations China.
Groupthink, of the Cold War.
Here we go Humans at it again.
Going into groups.
The US vs Russia, and China.
While I totally support going to the moon, to stay.
It’s a groupthink race.
My space colony is better than yours.
Wait for it………This LAND is mine, not yours.
Geez the can’t even sort out a few islands.
Even pretend, man made ones.
Poor Moon, groupthink has arrived.
I’m betting on some capital gain.
Think positively.
The Moon already has craters.
Hardly notice war.
Plus any debris would burn up in the atmosphere.
Due to radiation they will likely live underground.
In the long term, Humans…….
An underground LAND war.
To exploit resources.
Are there any rules?
Opps it’s a ‘Cold War’.
War happens with few rules.
A Lawless land grab.
So the Groopthink.
The Cold War is over.
The race to the moon.
Is just for photos.
The race to colonise Mars, or big asteroids.
Is a cause to calibrate.
As the land grab begins.
The Lawless, solar system.
The race to the stars.
Hmmm, the dilemma.
The knowledge they take with them.
Is all they have.
Shall they take groupthink, with them.
Fracture into opposites.
Humans cursed to war.
Fighting over Land.
Nothing safe from groupthink.
Everything exploited.
For greed, or for making life possible.
Either way, the truth wins.
They should take bets.
How long to the revolt.
The people of the moon.
Rejecting earths authority.
Groupthink, boiling over.
In a new war.
We the people of the Moon.
Declare Independence.
Comment by DJ Ward — Fri 30th April 2021 @ 8:04 pm
Sorry about the Rat reference in #10
But my cat caught something.
My daughter called it a rat, mouse.
It was a juvenile rat.
So I threw the cat outside, with its rat.
My daughter, refused to even touch it.
Hence eventuates, as words.
As I wrote it, rats jumping the sinking ship.
So technically, to the offended, not guilty.
……….
How the hell is Waterloo culturally insensitive.
Thousands died.
Like most wars pointless, nevertheless.
Groupthink winning, demanding.
Obedience, without a rule book.
Didn’t bother looking for a banned, day specific hat list.
Someone gave an Australian hat to my son, so wrong.
But say nothing, in fear of poisoning my son.
With Groupthink.
Comment by DJ Ward — Fri 30th April 2021 @ 8:42 pm