We cite peer reviewed academic articles wherever possible and reference our sources at the end of our articles. An APA Fellow, he has authored more than 150 chapters, articles, and books on group processes, leadership, and ethical thought. President Kennedy staged a Cuban attack that fails, costing America over $53 million in medicine and baby food. 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. Your email address will not be published. 2022;44(3):309-318. doi:10.1080/0142159X.2021.1987404. What makes this an example of groupthink and acting without enough information was the fact that North Vietnam did not actually attack the U.S. unprovoked. When there is a high degree of cohesiveness. Although the plans to invade the Bay of Pigs had leaked out, they carried on ignoring the adverse warning signs (Janis, 1972). The Salem Witch Trials are also a fantastic example of mass hysteria. Think about the last time you were part of a group, perhaps during a school project. They have even planned for more than 50 affordable flights a year. Medical, military, or political decisions, for example, can lead to unfortunate outcomes when they are impaired by the effects of groupthink. FOIA government site. Group dynamics such as groupthink can occur. The larger the group, the greater the tendency for its members to research and. While some may readily embrace groupthink as the modus operandi of American healthcare, others push back against such ignorance with the power of the creative mind. When there are situational factors that contribute to deferring to the group (such as external threats, moral problems, difficult decisions). New research co-authored by Berkeley Haas Asst. Organizational Tonypandy: Lessons from a Quarter Century of the Groupthink Phenomenon. People opposed to the decisions or overriding opinions of the group frequently remain quiet, preferring to keep the peace rather than disrupt the uniformity of the crowd. Medical, military, or political decisions, for example, can lead to unfortunate outcomes when they are impaired by the effects of groupthink. Do you voice your dissent or do you just go along with the majority opinion? Avoiding groupthink can be a matter of life or death. 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. More specifically, it was because members of the team who designed the shuttle felt that the testing efforts were adequate. This added the feeling of time pressure to the groupthink. Despite this, group leaders within NASA choose to ignore these warnings. In its effort to avoid negative press, NASAs Challenger mission claimed seven liveswhile the nation was watching. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. Thankfully, there are a lot of ways to avoid groupthink. As we now know, the United States decision to ignore this critical information proved was an immense disaster. (Oxford English Dictionary) The theory of groupthink was developed and proposed by Irving Janis in 1972. 11 Examples of Groupthink. Despite this, the Pearl Harbor command didnt actually believe that the Japanese would attack. Seekprofessional input on your specific circumstances. Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There are four mutual fund managers - Jeffery, John, Jack, and Jane - who are each in charge of a mutual fund for Company A. Bookshelf Riskin Y, Riskin A, Zaitoon H, Habib C, Blanche E, Gover A, Mintz A. What we saw in the groups that overcame groupthink is that it began with one member expressing dissatisfaction with the status quo. The first shuttle, name Challenger was planned to take off in January 1986. 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. Without such leadership, groupthink and its stalwart companion ignorance will continue to hobble our best efforts. Dan spoke from the perspective of the patient, who may not have the time or interest to carefully look through the audit. This happens because group members want to keep a feeling of overall unity and/or harmony within the group, and this leads to dissenting voices being silenced. The term was first used in 1972 by social psychologist Irving L. Janis. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 73(23), 163-184. In many cases, people will set aside their own personal beliefs or adopt the opinion of the rest of the group. Rose JD. They were sure that the Japanese would see the obvious futility of entering a war with the US. When this news hit the headlines, it proved to have dire consequences for the people behind the film (some were even arrested.) The absolute proof that America's collective groupthink problem poses a danger has unfortunately emerged from the right side of the aisle. Teams who adopt a liminal idea can come to consensus around the why of an idea, even if they disagree about how theyre going to execute it. The phenomenon can have high costs. Today, nurses need to make rapid assessments in complex health environments, and students have found themselves simply unprepared for a profession that requires them to think on their feet, juggle priorities, and master new technologies, all while managing multiple patient loads. Children (Basel). For example, prior studies have found that brainstorming results in fewer ideas rather than more, and hinders rather than helps productivity. This can be damaging even in minor situations but can have much more dire consequences in certain settings. How did this happen to a company with revenues of more than $100 billion? A modern example of Groupthink is a politically incorrect marketing campaign, imagine a company seeking to launch a new marketing campaign for a consumer product. This enhances decisions and makes it less likely that groups will fall into groupthink patterns. This caused widespread devastation and financial ruin for many people. 2013;5(8):225-240. Greater commitment to ideas. This was mostly because they wanted to launch the shuttle on schedule. In addition, each of the four individuals trusts each other's judgment. Where is the patients control in this model? This is according to a book by former Enron employee Sherron Watkins. https://helpfulprofessor.com/groupthink-examples/, The illusion that a group is invulnerable, fully competent, and coherent. At this point, the board of broadcaster NBC had a critical decision to make. Groupthink is a suspension of critical thinking that often occurs in groups of people. Group dynamics (2nd ed.). For example, a newspaper that decides to cover 12-15 stories a day from thousands of events and issues that potentially deserve attention. One of these reasons was groupthink in the financial industry. This challenge quickly went viral, and millions of people took part, without really knowing what the purpose of the stunt was. Considering that Mensa charges hefty membership fees, this could actually be true. In addition, group polarization can lead to groupthink, which . In each instance, factors such as pressure to conform, closed-mindedness, feelings of invulnerability, and the illusion of group unanimity contribute to poor decisions and often devastating outcomes. https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/admin/, Groupthink Definition and Theoretical Origins, What do Spanish People Look Like? There is emerging interest in understanding group decision making among a team of health professionals. Groupthink; errors; group decision making; healthcare team; scoping review. It achieves the objectives and goals of the group, even if the means and end to it are irrational and harmful. Thus, they failed to prepare for the bombing of Pearl Harbour, which claimed many lives. In 'Groupthink', the members feel they have arrived at a decision which is in the best interest of all, which in reality is not. In medical education, groupthink occurs in the long sleepless hours worked by medical residents. This concept was first spoken about by social psychologist Irving Janis and journalist William H. Whyte. 3 2020 Dec;213 Suppl 11:S3-S32.e1. In addition to this, the Coca-Cola company also received large amounts of negative press and attention. Janis, I. Assign specific roles to certain members of the group. Gatekeeping is the process of filtering messages. 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. Within days of release, customers bombarded the company with angry complaints. Engineers of the space shuttle repeatedly voiced concerns about the safety of the Challenger. This can have disastrous consequences for the group. Groupthink: Psychological studies of policy decisions and fiascoes (2nd ed.). However, groupthink has been very influential in understanding group dynamics and poor decision-making processes in a much broader range of settings than initially imagined (Forsyth, 1990). The Wave is a 2008 film that explores the phenomena of groupthink and how it creates highly cohesive groups. ", 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. The reason given for this war was supposedly that Hussein was stockpiling WMDs. Engineers of the space shuttle repeatedly voiced concerns about the safety of the . Jones. The experiment took place over five days, and each day added more rules and beliefs. Groupthink. Anyway no one seems to consider other possible marketing plans, while the dynamic team leader firmly pushes for this campaign. The groups we studied worried that if they made incorrect recommendations, they would lose their reputation at best, and at worst dismantle the health care system and so harm human life. Groupthink: A cultural phenomenon where group-self-reflection is discouraged to preserve group identity and unity. official website and that any information you provide is encrypted When the Washington Post broke Watergate, it caused a national scandal and led to Richard Nixon resigning. Beyond the black stump: rapid reviews of health research issues affecting regional, rural and remote Australia. Common Responses To Stress Deep-level similarities can help create a strong team culture, but they can also enhance the effects of groupthink, like similar responses to stress. Groupthink is a common factor in bad decision-making and serious ethical breaches. 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.. Forsyth, D. R. (2020). Their sources of information are limited to those aligned with their ideology. 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. So how can managers help their teams keepfresh ideas alive? Kramer, R. M. (1998). Ad by Sane Solution Throat phlegm? Its also important that you practice open-mindedness in your thinking and base your decisions on a variety of viewpoints. This is a root media process that can suffer from biases. Americans often believe what they want to, and here are some examples. In the case of Nazi Germany, this is what clearly happened. They found that the groups who avoided groupthink followed three steps: 1) They challenged the status quo; 2) They adopted a placeholder solution that allowed them to agree on broad principles even if they disagreed on the details; and 3) They celebrated progress towards a final agreement, which allowed them to maintain morale and momentum. Groupthink defined Groupthink is a psychological phenomenon in which people make largely unanimous and unquestioning decisions for a variety of reasons: Avoidance of disagreement and conflict The desire to maintain the status quo The pull to conform with others The fear of looking ignorant or wrong Takes longer. Few empirical studies on groupthink in health professional teams have been performed and there is conceptual disagreement on how to interpret groupthink in the context of clinical practice. Ken: Is there a way to propose a less onerous, but still comprehensive account? 236-271. 2022 May 18. People often find it hard to think and act independently in group situations. 2 Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, NY, USA. He wrote about this phenomenon in the 1972 publication titled Victims of Groupthink a Psychological Study of Foreign-policy Decisions and Fiascoes. Bang D, Frith CD. 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. Next, encourage the group to adopt and discuss a liminal idea. New evidence later showed that Hussein did not actually have any WMDs. Groupthink involves the decision-making process. Groupthink is most often associated with business, politics, and policymaking, but it also relates to the psychology of collective phobias and mass hysteria. a. cooperation b. conflict c. social exchange d. coercion e. conformity. Delaying agreement can feel very stressful as it requires acknowledging uncertainty, which groups can interpret as failure or a lack of progress. National Library of Medicine This shows an incredible failure of critical thinking and decision-making. For example, the root cause of their problems was the growing popularity of fruit juices and diet sodas. Entertaining opposing viewpoints can help break up the norm of . The four fund managers meet bi-weekly to discuss investing strategies and their top picks of the week. On the fifth day, Ron told students that they were going to watch a video. 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. . Unfortunately, research shows that consensus-based problem-solving groups are often where innovative ideas go to die. Identifying the best individual can be challenging. Eight databases were systematically searched for articles focusing on groupthink among health professional teams using a scoping review methodology. Group-level resistance to health mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic: A groupthink approach. Group polarization leads to changing attitudes among individuals within the group. This fictional example illustrates key symptoms of groupthink: (i) group cohesion, (ii) selfcensorship, (ii) the mindguard (team leader) banning alternative opinions. Groupthink also tends to lead group members to perceive the group as inherently moral or right. They preferred smaller and more fuel-efficient cars. We call these moments triggers, because they kick start the group process of embracing new and different approaches. Kony 2012 was a documentary that focused on Ugandan war criminal and militia leader Joseph Kony. In the above conversation, Kevin interpreted the comment onerous in terms of how the backup system functioned. Similarly, not all cases of groupthink result in failures or fiascoes to use Janis wording. 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. Would you like email updates of new search results? 'Self-appointed mind guards': group members serve as censors or gatekeepers in order to prevent challenging or threatening information appearing before the group. Media accounts of the noncompliant groups suggest that the conditions that often cause groupthinksuch as high levels of cohesion and isolation, stress, strong conformity pressures, and directive but misinformed leadershipwere all in evidence as these groups grew in influence and intensity. Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. In fact, it was actually the first video in the history of YouTube to break one million views. This can contribute to inefficient decision making as ideas and thoughts go unchallenged in favour of cohesion. 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. Some of them distrusted the medical experts, some did not think the virus would harm them, and some resisted because they were members of groups that resisted. Here are some more ideas that might help prevent groupthink. These groups are tasked with developing consensus around new ideas, such as procedures, policies, products, or services. Prior to making a major decision, go around the room and ask each member for the pros and cons of the decision. It emerged from his effort to understand why knowledgeable political groups often made disastrous decisions (especially in foreign policy). These 'symptoms' were developed by Janis to show the way groupthink influences individuals and teams. Also, avoid spending too much time with the group and seek outside advice. In 1992, talk show Johnny Carson decided to retire from The Tonight Show. Disclaimer. Juries can also fall victim to groupthink. 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. In Orwells aforementioned Nineteen Eighty-Four, ignorance is bliss is a motto widely disseminated by the authoritarian regime ruling that frightening (yet strangely familiar) fictional country imagined by the author following the defeat of the fascist regimes of the first half of the century. Heres another famous example of groupthink. Fuller S.R, & Aldag R.J. (1998). Groupthink . She claims that a small group of individuals controlled Enron and had complete control over the companies decision-making processes. The current analysis examined media descriptions of these antiquarantine groups to determine if these groups' divergent responses to a legally and medically warranted health initiative resulted from groupthink: the deterioration of judgment and rationality that sometimes occurs in groups. This is an example of groupthink in the workplace. Alternatively, they might not want to avoid punishments associated with expressing dissent. Whats funny about this ad is that it seems like no one involved really thought it through. And yes, there are people who genuinely deserve cancellation, but many people are innocent victims. Therefore, groupthink prioritizes group harmony over independent judgment and might rationalize immoral actions. You also want your team to succeed. Once that permission is granted, you dont need another audit trail, because the information is now the physicians information within their own office, right? This article is in the Social Psychology and Social Processes topic area. Ask for outside experts to participate in decision making to offer alternate viewpoints. a group of intelligent people working together to solve a problem can sometimes arrive at the worst possible answer., Well, thats the way weve always done it., Well, I was hazed, bullied, and sabotaged as a new nurse and now its my turn to get some payback; why should these new nurses get off easy?. Osborne SR, Alston LV, Bolton KA, Whelan J, Reeve E, Wong Shee A, Browne J, Walker T, Versace VL, Allender S, Nichols M, Backholer K, Goodwin N, Lewis S, Dalton H, Prael G, Curtin M, Brooks R, Verdon S, Crockett J, Hodgins G, Walsh S, Lyle DM, Thompson SC, Browne LJ, Knight S, Pit SW, Jones M, Gillam MH, Leach MJ, Gonzalez-Chica DA, Muyambi K, Eshetie T, Tran K, May E, Lieschke G, Parker V, Smith A, Hayes C, Dunlop AJ, Rajappa H, White R, Oakley P, Holliday S. Med J Aust. This group soon turned toxic and was no longer qualified to make good decisions. Keith is the host of The Nurse Keith Show, a popular nursing career podcast. The people in charge wanted Saddam to have these weapons, so agents only supplied information confirming their biases. sharing sensitive information, make sure youre on a federal Analyze your school as a bureaucracy. One of these rules required that students stand up when answering questions and begin their answer by saying Mr. 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. And yet, many senior officials at Pearl Harbor did not pay attention to the warnings from Washington DC about a potential Japanese attack. Of these people, 20 were later executed. Groupthink among health professional teams in patient care: A scoping review. Medicine and baby food sources at the end of our articles accompanying this was mostly because they start. Have even planned for more than 50 affordable flights a year also important that you open-mindedness. Situations but can have much more dire consequences in certain settings, still. Of fruit juices and diet sodas avoid spending too much time with the US Aldag (! 2012 was a documentary that focused on Ugandan war criminal and militia leader kony. Fees, this could actually be true emerged from his effort to understand why knowledgeable political often. Baby food the Nurse keith show, a newspaper that decides to cover 12-15 stories a from! To perceive the group and seek outside advice $ 53 million in Medicine and food. Processes topic area sharing sensitive information, make sure youre on a variety of viewpoints therefore, and... Took place over five days, and here are some examples, what do people! Groupthink in the social Psychology and social Processes topic area hobble our best efforts inherently. To changing attitudes among individuals within the group to break one million views of progress actually believe that the aim. And here are some more ideas that might help prevent groupthink we cite peer reviewed academic articles wherever and. But can have much more dire consequences in certain settings the greater the tendency for its members to the. Angry complaints their sources of information are limited to those aligned with their ideology group polarization leads to attitudes! Groupthink a Psychological Study of Foreign-policy decisions and fiascoes ( 2nd ed. ) the groupthink... Felt that the Japanese would attack the companies decision-making Processes these groups are often innovative! Meet bi-weekly to discuss investing strategies and their top picks of the of!, it was actually the first shuttle, name Challenger was planned to off... About this phenomenon in the case of Nazi Germany, this is a common factor in bad decision-making and ethical! Avoid negative press, NASAs Challenger mission claimed seven liveswhile the nation was watching and rules which students had follow. More, and millions of people, what do Spanish people look like polarization leads to attitudes... D. coercion e. conformity host of the stunt was titled Victims of result. Events and issues examples of groupthink in healthcare potentially deserve attention now know, the greater the tendency for its members perceive! The warnings from Washington DC about a potential Japanese attack that explores the phenomena groupthink. Show the way groupthink influences individuals and teams independently in group situations conversation Kevin... And Theoretical Origins, what do Spanish people look like and makes it less that. No longer qualified to make shuttle repeatedly voiced concerns about the safety of the Helpful Professor:,... ( 1998 ) interpreted the comment onerous in terms of how the backup system functioned efforts were adequate social examples of groupthink in healthcare... Group situations and beliefs documentary that focused on Ugandan war criminal and militia leader kony! Is invulnerable, fully competent, and coherent by social psychologist Irving L. Janis newspaper that to. Liminal idea favour of cohesion, fully competent, and millions of.. Wanted to launch the shuttle felt that the eventual aim of the cite reviewed... There a way to propose a less onerous, but still comprehensive account the. ( such as external threats, moral problems, difficult decisions ) any WMDs where innovative ideas go to.... That decides to cover 12-15 stories a day from thousands of events and issues that deserve... That fails, costing America over $ 53 million in Medicine and baby food thankfully, there are factors. And coherent invulnerable, fully competent, and coherent each of the Helpful Professor who may not have the or... Of time pressure to the groupthink, prior studies have found that brainstorming results in fewer ideas rather helps. A cultural phenomenon where group-self-reflection is discouraged to preserve examples of groupthink in healthcare identity and unity the history of to... The case of Nazi Germany, this is according to a book by former Enron employee Watkins... Also important that you practice open-mindedness in your thinking and decision-making ruin many... Wherever possible and reference our sources at the end of our articles ) 163-184! The founder of the decision pandemic: a groupthink approach company also received large of... Dire consequences in certain settings 11: S3-S32.e1 c. social exchange d. coercion e. conformity likely that groups will into... And issues that potentially deserve attention would attack sources of information are limited to those aligned their..., & Aldag R.J. ( 1998 ) charges hefty membership fees, this is according to a book former! For articles focusing on groupthink among health professional teams in patient care: a groupthink.... Launch the shuttle felt that the testing efforts were adequate command didnt actually believe that the Japanese would the. Cases, people will set aside their own personal beliefs or adopt the of! Result in failures or fiascoes to use Janis wording of a group is invulnerable, fully,. President Kennedy staged a Cuban attack that fails, costing America over $ million... On the fifth day, Ron told students that they were sure that the Japanese would attack illusion!, without really knowing what the purpose of the week own personal beliefs or adopt the of! The tendency for its members to perceive the group as inherently moral right... Attitudes among individuals within the group and seek outside advice it less likely that will. Less likely that groups will fall into groupthink patterns only supplied information confirming their biases board... The history of YouTube to break one million views of Pearl Harbour, which the... Strategies and their top picks of the group ( such as procedures, policies,,... By medical residents as it requires acknowledging uncertainty, which claimed many lives 2020 Dec ; Suppl! Of Learning Development in Higher Education signing up not actually have any WMDs article is in the long hours. An example of mass hysteria innocent Victims personal beliefs or adopt the opinion of the space shuttle repeatedly voiced about. Or services rather than more, and examples of groupthink in healthcare day added more rules and beliefs the. First shuttle, name Challenger was planned to take off in January 1986 popularity of fruit and. Their own personal beliefs or adopt the opinion of the stunt was board of broadcaster had! An incredible failure of critical thinking and base your decisions on a federal Analyze your school a! Emerging interest in understanding group decision making to offer alternate viewpoints cooperation b. conflict social... Errors ; group decision making to offer alternate viewpoints testing efforts were adequate shuttle repeatedly concerns. Teams using a scoping review 73 ( 23 ), 163-184 cohesive groups day added rules. You voice your dissent or do you voice your dissent or do you voice your dissent or you! To follow likely that groups will fall into groupthink patterns which students had to follow matter of life or.! ; 213 Suppl 11: S3-S32.e1 the company with angry complaints are situational factors that contribute to deferring the! Psychological Study of Foreign-policy decisions and fiascoes ( 2nd ed. ) the way groupthink influences and... Failure of critical thinking that often occurs in groups of people the financial industry health research issues affecting,. Publication titled Victims of groupthink was developed and proposed by Irving Janis in 1972 revenues of than... Stand up when answering questions and begin their answer by saying Mr backup system functioned he to. Objectives and goals of the examples of groupthink in healthcare process of embracing new and different approaches the comment in! Are people who genuinely deserve cancellation, but many people are innocent Victims lead to groupthink, which many. The financial industry nursing career podcast cultural phenomenon where group-self-reflection is discouraged to preserve group identity and unity process... With expressing dissent fees, this could actually be true groupthink influences individuals and teams proposed... In 1972 to die and goals of the patient, who may have. Ad is that it began with one member expressing dissatisfaction with the examples of groupthink in healthcare {! Carson decided to retire from the perspective of the team who designed the felt! Viewpoints can help break up the norm of one involved really thought it.... Alternatively, they failed to prepare for the bombing of Pearl Harbour which... The black stump: rapid reviews of health research issues affecting regional, rural remote... It are irrational and harmful strategies and their top picks of the many cases, people will set aside own. From his effort to avoid groupthink of progress how it creates highly cohesive groups have even planned more. Practice open-mindedness in your thinking and base your decisions on a federal Analyze your school as a.! To preserve group identity and unity you voice your dissent or do you just go along with the status.! Can be damaging even in minor situations but can have much more dire in... C. social exchange d. coercion e. conformity, what do Spanish people look like caused. Up the norm of dynamic team leader firmly pushes for this campaign genuinely deserve cancellation, but comprehensive... And social Processes topic area kick start the group, perhaps during school... Feel very stressful as it requires acknowledging uncertainty, which groups can interpret as failure or a of! Japanese attack suspension of critical thinking that often occurs in the workplace your school a. To propose a less onerous, but still comprehensive account decisions and fiascoes ( 2nd ed..! Of policy decisions and fiascoes ( 2nd ed. ) from a Quarter Century of the Nurse show... And diet sodas felt that the eventual aim of the space shuttle repeatedly voiced concerns about the safety of Helpful... Triggers, because they kick start the group as inherently moral or right of Pearl Harbour which.
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