Groupthink

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Grammarist

Groupthink is decision-making made as a group. Groupthink ideas are formed in an atmosphere that encourages conformity and harmony, and discourages creativity and personal responsibility. Groupthink is a psychological and sociological phenomenon, groupthink rarely yields the best solution to a problem as the desire to keep the group cohesive is more important than the impetus to create an elegant solution. Irving Janis conducted the first studies on groupthink, highlighting the groupthink principles that came into play leading to the Bay of Pigs invasion and the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The term groupthink was coined by William H. Whyte Jr. in an article he wrote for Fortune magazine in 1952.

 Examples

The groupthink was evident as early as 2008, when the financial crisis rendered banks on both sides of the Atlantic desperately in need of capital and short-term loans. (The Irish Examiner)

During the Labour leadership election, Jeremy Corbyn made waves by distinguishing himself from the groupthink of warmongers and phallic bomb fetishisers. (The National)

Just as importantly, diversity pushes against people’s tendency to engage in “groupthink.” (Forbes)

An alternative to groupthink is one thing, but his vocal opposition to the city manager may disrupt a city government that is just hitting its stride. (The Yakima Herald)

On site, the workers’ conversations slip frequently into a poetic unified consciousness, or a mantra of groupthink. (The Irish Times)

Hefner, daughter of Playboy founder Hugh Hefner, said she believes the president started with good intentions to run a more transparent government but was caught up in “groupthink” of intelligence agencies. (The Los Angeles Times)

Mr Walker will tell an audience of 2,000 businessmen and women: “The British political class, always prey to groupthink, has had two shocks this year, with the decisive re-election of a Conservative government and the choice of Jeremy Corbyn as leader of the Labour Party.” (The Belfast Telegram)