What is Groupthink?

By Rithika Revur2 min read · Posted Apr 24, 2023

5
Views

Picture this: you are in a group of people that believes the Earth is flat and you are the only one who believes the Earth is round. Too scared to voice your opinion, even knowing you are correct, you join in the group and believe the world is flat too. This is a case of groupthink. Keep reading to find out what exactly groupthink is and how it can impact your life.

What is Groupthink?

Groupthink occurs when a group of people is so focused on maintaining a sense of unity and harmony that it prevents them from critically evaluating the decision they are making. It is a form of irrational thinking that can lead to poor decision-making.

The most common symptom of groupthink is the suppression of dissenting opinions. If one person in the group has a different opinion, they may be silenced or ignored by the rest. This can lead to a lack of creativity and critical thinking.

Groupthink can also be caused by an over-reliance on a single leader. If the leader dominates the decision-making process, it can prevent the group from critically evaluating their options. The leader may also be unwilling to consider opposing opinions, which can lead to groupthink.

Takeaways

Groupthink can lead to disastrous decisions. It can result in a failure to recognize potential risks or consequences of the decisions being made. It can also cause the group to make decisions that are not in line with their goals or values. It’s important to utilize judgment and reasoning to make the right decision and to prevent groupthink occurring in the first place.

References

About The Author

Rithika Revur

12
Articles
4255
Total Views
9
Total Likes
0
Total Shares

See more posts by Rithika Revur

Comments

More in Operations


Operations » Human Resources

What is the Equity Theory of motivation?

by Jyothirmayee Vishnusekhar ·Jul 5, 2024

37
Views

We investigate the importance of motivation theories in complex work environments and outline major conclusions from the equity theory of motivation. Read more

Operations » Human Resources

What is moral intensity and what factors affect it?

by Roxanne Guiney ·Jul 1, 2024

23
Views

The moral intensity model suggests that people make ethical decisions based on six factors of a moral problem. Read more

Operations » Project Management Tools

What is the four gate model of entrepreneurship?

by Jyothirmayee Vishnusekhar ·Jun 21, 2024

24
Views

The entrepreneurship journey is pictured as having four stages/gates, starting at the idea gate and ending at the exit gate, and critical features are explained. Read more

Operations » Human Resources

What is an Employee Evaluation and What Is Its Evaluation process?

by Hadrat Ajao ·May 22, 2024

370
Views

An employee evaluation is used to rate an employee's areas of strength and need for improvement. It involves preparation, evaluation meeting, evaluation report, follow-up, documentation and implementation, and continuous feedback. Read more

Recent articles


Financial » Funding

How do business or companies get funded?

by Jyothirmayee Vishnusekhar ·Jul 24, 2024

5
Views

Funding is vital for start-ups & companies to get off the ground. What you need to know about funding your companies/businesses is analyzed & compared. Read more

Marketing » Advertising

How to effectively use promotion and marketing strategies

by Degreat Michael ·Jul 22, 2024

7
Views

Learn about promotional marketing strategies for businesses (small and big). You’ll discover the difference between promotion and marketing and more. Read more

Financial » Investing

What is a stockholder? What are shares?

by Favour Ndime ·Jul 19, 2024

7
Views

Stockholders own shares of a company which entitles them to vote, receive dividends, and enjoy gains from stock price increase. This article further describes stockholder rights and responsibilities, and the differences between common vs. preferred stock Read more

Financial » Economics

What is cyclical, structural, and frictional unemployment?

by Sibusiso Mnyandeni ·Jul 17, 2024

11
Views

A comprehensive guide into the different types of unemployment, including cyclical, structural, and frictional, and their distinct causes and impacts. Read more

Join Our Community


Looking for something else? Get your questions answered in our free online learning community!

Entrepreneurial Resources


Jumpstart your next business with our free resource library.

Disclaimer


Our organization cannot give out official legal/fiscal guidance. All articles are written by volunteers and it may be beneficial to contact professionals to assist your understanding of the information and to guide your action. Pitch Labs bears no responsibility for the results of actions taken based off of article content or any other form of assistance given.