What Is Groupthink? Definition, Signs & Real-Life Examples

Groupthink is a cognitive bias that causes well-intentioned people to make suboptimal decisions. It occurs when groups prioritize harmony and cohesion over independent thinking, prompting members to conform to the dominant viewpoint, even if it requires them to ignore their doubts and concerns.

As we explore what groupthink is in greater depth, you’ll learn how to recognize it, find out how to prevent it, and discover how your personality type affects your susceptibility to it.

What Is Groupthink: The Psychological Perspective

Groupthink is a psychological and sociological phenomenon in which members of a group conform to the majority opinion instead of thinking critically, leading to decision-making pitfalls. This term was coined in 1972 by Irving L. Janis in the book Victims of Groupthink: A psychological study of foreign-policy decisions and fiascoes.

This cognitive bias causes people to suppress their doubts, ignore risks, and overlook their personal beliefs to maintain group harmony when making decisions, even when it leads to negative outcomes. It is common in highly cohesive, tight-knit groups isolated from outside opinions, where the desire for consensus overrides independent judgment.

What Causes Groupthink?

The main causes of groupthink include a strong sense of group identity, stress, leader influence, and a lack of knowledge.

Here’s how these factors may increase the risk of groupthink:

• Group identity. Groups with a strong sense of shared identity can be most susceptible to groupthink because their members interpret information similarly, leading to the same conclusions. This also increases the chances of conformity bias, where individuals may adopt other people’s beliefs to maintain a sense of belonging.
• Lack of knowledge. Group members with little or no understanding of the issue at hand often engage in groupthink by delegating decision-making authority to others or complying with the prevailing opinion in the group.
• High-stress situations. Stressful conditions, such as time pressure, make groups more prone to seeking fast consensus, leading to groupthink. In such situations, members often refrain from voicing their doubts or opinions to avoid delays and confusion.
• Charismatic leadership. Powerful, charismatic leaders may perpetuate groupthink, as people are less likely to challenge their perspective, especially when others seem to agree with it.

Now that you know what groupthink is, let’s discuss its main signs and symptoms.

Signs and Symptoms of Groupthink

The key signs and symptoms of groupthink are collective rationalization, pressure on dissenters, self-censorship, the illusion of unanimity, and mindguards. These signs can help you recognize groupthink in management and organizations, allowing you to take action to prevent it from negatively affecting the decision-making process.

Below is a more detailed overview of these signs:

#1. Collective Rationalization

Collective rationalization is a tell-tale indicator of groupthink. It occurs when group members actively dismiss warnings and discount evidence that may challenge their assumptions to maintain harmony and cohesion. Instead of thinking critically and reconsidering their choices, they rationalize and justify their decisions, even when their reasoning is obviously flawed.

Minimizing or downplaying clear dangers can also contribute to a shared illusion of invulnerability, making groups more likely to take extreme risks.

#2. Pressure on Dissenters

Pressure on dissenters occurs when group members discourage those with alternative viewpoints from speaking up and raising concerns. Those who engage in groupthink may, for example, question the loyalty of those who challenge the group or label them as difficult to work with, leading to social exclusion.

The goal of this pressure is to reinforce conformity by preventing group members from voicing their honest opinions. Although this creates the illusion of unity, it comes at a price, as the lack of critical insight greatly increases the likelihood of flawed decision-making.

#3. Self-Censorship

Self-censorship is common in groups that prioritize conformity and put pressure on dissenters. It happens when group members voluntarily suppress their opinions, concerns, and doubts, often out of fear of conflict and judgment. Some may also censor themselves to avoid social exclusion and jeopardize their relationship with the group leader or other group members.

#4. Illusion of Unanimity

Groupthink often creates an illusion of unanimity or a false sense of consensus, which is closely tied to self-censorship. It occurs when group members interpret silence as agreement. Simply put, this illusion occurs because those with different viewpoints keep to themselves, leading others to believe that everyone is on the same page, even when they’re not.

#5. Mindguards

Mindguards are individuals who shield other group members from information that may challenge the dominant viewpoint, whether consciously or not. Rather than encouraging open discussions, they limit the information that reaches the group to prevent dissent.

These individuals are often self-appointed. While their intentions may seem positive (e.g., to preserve group harmony), ultimately, they keep the group stagnant and insulate it from critical information, perpetuating cognitive biases and preventing it from seeing the big picture.

Since you now know what groupthink is and how to recognize it, it’s time to discover what it looks like in everyday life.

Examples of Groupthink in Everyday Life

Here are some examples of groupthink you may encounter in everyday life:

• Workplace decision-making. One of the most common examples of groupthink in workplace decision-making is when group members dismiss the concerns raised by junior employees, even when their doubts are reasonable.
• Political or societal movements. Many people unknowingly engage in groupthink when they support certain political parties or societal movements because those they deem more knowledgeable (their friends, family members, colleagues, or celebrities) do so.
• Family or friend group decisions. Conforming to traditions or letting others choose a restaurant, a movie, etc., just to avoid conflict, even if you don’t particularly like it, is a good example of groupthink among friends and family.
• Social media trends and viral challenges. The Fyre Festival, which was heavily promoted by social media influencers, is a real-life example of groupthink. Its attendees were stranded on an island without access to food, shelter, and water after its organizers dismissed the concerns of event planning staff. Participating in viral social media challenges (e.g., Tide Pod challenge) without evaluating risks is another good example.

How to Prevent or Reduce Groupthink

You can prevent groupthink by encouraging open dialogue and critical thinking and assigning a group member to serve as the devil’s advocate. Implementing polling or anonymous feedback, dividing large groups into smaller units, and educating teams on cognitive biases in groups can also help reduce groupthink.

Let’s discuss these strategies in greater depth:

Encourage Open Dialogue and Critical Thinking

Open dialogue and critical thinking are the most potent antidotes to groupthink. As such, it’s essential to create an environment where all group members feel safe to share their ideas, express their doubts, and challenge the dominant viewpoint.

Leaders, in particular, can promote this by asking open-ended questions and inviting everyone, especially quiet team members, to speak up and give honest feedback. Slowing down the decision-making process by prioritizing critical insight over fast agreement can also help reduce groupthink.

Assign a “Devil’s Advocate”

Appointing a devil’s advocate is another effective way to prevent groupthink. Assigning someone the responsibility to question assumptions and propose alternative viewpoints can counteract the group’s tendency to conform and balance the decision-making process.

Ideally, this role should rotate between different team members to encourage critical thinking and ensure no individual feels like a dissenter. This can also help group members become more comfortable with disagreement instead of seeing it as a threat to harmony.

Implement Anonymous Feedback or Polling

Anonymous feedback or polling can help group members share their honest opinions without fear of judgment. Plus, it can help those who are less comfortable expressing their thoughts in group settings open up. Such tools ensure that everyone’s viewpoints are heard and considered before reaching a conclusion.

Break Large Groups Into Smaller Teams

Breaking large groups into smaller teams increases participation, helping involve all group members in the decision-making process instead of delegating it to the loudest voices. Most importantly, it creates space for multiple perspectives by enabling teams to analyze issues and brainstorm solutions separately before sharing them with the larger group.

Educate Teams on Cognitive Biases

Educating team members on cognitive biases, including groupthink, is an excellent way to help them recognize and address flawed thought patterns within the group.

Better yet, workshops, seminars, and other educational activities on cognitive biases can help team members become more conscious of their own behavior, creating a sense of shared accountability.

By now, you know not only what groupthink is but also how to prevent it. So, it’s time to delve deeper into the topic of team dynamics and personality and find out which Enneagram types are the most and least susceptible to this cognitive bias.

Enneagram and Groupthink

Some Enneagram types are more prone to groupthink than others because their core motivations and fears make them susceptible to peer pressure in groups.

As a general rule, the following personality types are more likely to fall prey to groupthink than other types:

• Enneagram 2. Twos yearn for love and acceptance, and their desire to belong often leads them to adopt group opinions.
• Enneagram 3. Threes have a strong need for approval and external validation, so they often match other people’s opinions and beliefs to maintain their social status.
• Enneagram 6. Since Sixes seek security and tend to trust authority figures, they may agree with others to maintain a sense of safety.
• Enneagram 9. Nines are harmony-seeking individuals who value peace above all else; their tendency to avoid conflict can cause them to merge with other people and their ideas.

By contrast, these personality types are less susceptible to groupthink:

• Enneagram 1. Ones are conscientious individuals with a strong moral compass and a desire to act correctly, so they may challenge group decisions they deem immoral, unethical, or otherwise flawed.
• Enneagram 4. These people value authentic self-expression, and their individualistic nature often causes them to resist conformity and rebel against authority.
• Enneagram 5. Such personalities desire competence and independence. Because they are analytical, skeptical, and private, they like to do their own research and form their own judgments instead of blindly complying with others.
• Enneagram 8. Eights fear being controlled and losing autonomy. They fearlessly question authority, resist social influence in team settings, and stand up for themselves and their beliefs.

Meanwhile, the Enneagram 7 lies somewhere in the middle. These versatile individuals may go along with others in some cases and challenge their opinions in others, especially if these threaten their freedom.

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Key Takeaways

Hopefully, you now have a clear understanding of what groupthink is, how it manifests in everyday situations, and how to prevent it after reading this article.

Before you leave, let’s go over the key points we covered today:

• Groupthink is a psychological phenomenon that causes individuals to adopt other people’s viewpoints without questioning them, often due to a lack of knowledge, stress, and leader influence.
• Some common signs of groupthink include self-censorship, the illusion of unanimity, and collective rationalization.
• The most effective way to prevent this cognitive bias is to promote open communication and critical thinking, appoint a devil’s advocate, and use anonymous feedback tools.
• Enneagram Types 2, 3, 6, and 9 are most susceptible to groupthink, whereas Types 1, 4, 5, and 8 are most likely to challenge it.

What Is Groupthink FAQ