Photo by Keoni Cabral
Photo by Keoni Cabral

Sometimes, when you have a highly-cohesive group, people will publicly support ideas that others in the group champion while harboring private reservations about them simply not to ‘rock the boat.’

This can lead to poor decision making.

Examples of Groupthink:

  • US in Vietnam
  • US Navy’s complacency ahead of Pearl Harbor
  • President Kennedy’s Bay of Pigs Invasion

Groupthink: A Mode of thinking that people engage in when they are deeply involved in a cohesive in-group, when the members’ striving for unanimity override their motivation to realistically appraise alternative courses of action.” – Irving Janis.

Symptoms of Groupthink

  • Illusion of invulnerability.
  • Belief in inherent morality.
  • Collective rationalization.
  • Refusing to accept outside ideas or vet them thoroughly.
  • Stereotyping those outside of the group and not examining others or their ideas closely.
  • Self-censorship.
  • Illusion of unanimous behavior. Not testing the group to see how much consensus there really is.
  • Pressuring group members who do not agree.

Authors

  • Ted Hessing

    I originally created SixSigmaStudyGuide.com to help me prepare for my own Black belt exams. Overtime I've grown the site to help tens of thousands of Six Sigma belt candidates prepare for their Green Belt & Black Belt exams. Go here to learn how to pass your Six Sigma exam the 1st time through!

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  • Tanner Zornes

    I earned my Lean Six Sigma Black Belt through IASSC. SixSigmaStudyGuide.com's guided course has helped me gain confidence to pass my exam and earn my certification. I currently apply Six Sigma in aerospace manufacturing to drive efficiencies and reduce costs. Ask me how the Six Sigma Study Guide can help you pass your exam. https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanner-zornes-b9871b106/

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