Understanding Groupthink

A Yale psychologist, Irving Janis, coined the term groupthink in the early 1970s (1972).* Groupthink occurs when group cohesion and agreement become so important that the members of the group are not able to dissent, even if that means that the members of the group make irrational decisions. Janis argued that groupthink was especially a problem for government decisions such as policy choices. Knowing the group dynamics and symptoms of groupthink can help leaders avoid the pitfalls from decisions that can result from groupthink.

*Janis, Irving L. (1972). Victims of groupthink: A psychological study of foreign-policy decisions and fiascoes. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin.

Read the Janis article introducing the concept of groupthink.

Using the Internet, search for and find an example of groupthink. Think about strategies that can be used to overcome groupthink.

Submit 150 – 500 word response: Due by Thursday 11/12/15 a brief definition of groupthink. Provide an example of groupthink from your experience or research. Then, explain how groupthink can lead to unethical decisions. Finally, offer three strategies that might be used to avoid or overcome groupthink.

Support your work with specific citations from the Learning Resources. You are allowed to draw from additional sources to support your explanation, but you must cite using APA standards. All quoted material must be identified, cited, and referenced per APA standards.