Diverse perspectives on the groupthink theory regent university. Pdf the groupthink model is evaluated in the context of the papers of this special issue. This causes the group to minimize conflict and reach a consensus. First, we explicitly consider and measure the core construct of groupthink phenomenon. Williams and oreilly 1998 van knippenberg and schippers 2007. Janis, 1982, houghton mifflin edition, in english 2nd ed. The theory of groupthink was first developed by the social psychologist irving janis in his classic 1972 study, victims of groupthink.
The term group think is reminiscent of doublethink, a term coined by george orwell in 1984. Groupthink became extremely popular in a wide range of literature. Janis s groupthink concept 1982 1972 is based on such factors as high group morale and selfesteem, which lead to conformity, rejection of dissent, failure to appreciate other points of view, lower likelihood of seeking information or advice from outside the group, and so on. Feb 20, 2021 groupthink is a term coined by yale research psychologist irving janis to describe a process by which a group can make poor or irrational decisions. One way is to select ad hoc groups to solve problems. Third, symptoms of groupthink such as arrogance, overcommitment, and excessive loyalty to the group will be. The first chapter will begin by revisiting janis 1972, 1982 groupthink model, then incorporate the eight symptoms and six decisionmaking defects of groupthink janis determined to be synonymous with this phenomenon. Through a series of indepth case studies of historical incidents of group decisionmaking, successful and unsuccessful, janis adduces prima facie evidence that a principal impediment to good decisionmaking is groupthink, a syndrome in which internal group pressures toward conformity and amicability are allowed to override reality testing. This is one of the key characteristics of groupthink. Janis showed how this phenomenon contributed to some of the major u.
One influential theory of group decision making is janis 1972, 1982. Janis uses several case studies of what he considers to be groupthink the bay of pigs invasion, the escalation of the korean war in 1950, the attack on pearl harbor while the fortress slept, and escalation of the viet nam war. Groupthink is described janis, 1982 as a linear model, where the presence of some. In an unprecedented way, janis applied ideas from smallgroup analysis to the explana tion of policy fiascoes. A psychological study of foreign policy decisions and fiascoes by irving l. Although janis groupthink theory was based on historical case studies and not empirical evidence it quickly found mass appeal.
Groupthink irving lester janis 1982 groupthink the psychological drive. In short, groupthink is more likely to occur in times of high stress. The literature on group polarization documents that discussion within likeminded. Groupthink principles and fundamentals in organizations. Eden, and cruz 2006 summarized janis 1972, 1982, 1989 construct of groupthink utilizing a fivestep causal model. Top management teams of seven fortune 500 companies were examined at two historical juncturesone when the team was successful defined as satisfying strategic constituencies and one when the team was unsuccessful. Janis later in 1977 and again in 1982 expanded on his theory by pointing out a number of other factors that, combined with cohesiveness, could help foster groupthink a highly insulated group with restrained access to outside feedback. Top management teams of sevenfortune 500companies were examined at two historical juncturesone when the team was successful defined as satisfying. In his study, janis suggested that groupthink was behind the poor decisions made in the united states foreign policy. Through a series of indepth case studies of histori. Factor analysis was used to develop scales to measure the aspects of groupthink proposed by janis 1982. Janis modeled groupthink as certain antecedent conditions, which lead to. Afo perform a manual procedure for invoice, called out. Houghton mifflin, 1982 groupthink, a term coined by social psychologist irving janis 1972, occurs when a group makes faulty decisions because group pressures lead to a deterioration of mental efficiency, reality testing.
This study explored the heuristic value of janis 1982 groupthink and vigilant decision making models as explanations of failure and success in top management team decision making using the organizational group dynamics q sort gdq. Andererseits handelt es sich aber auch um ein sehr einfaches modell, weil es eigentlich nur eine bestimmungsgro. Oct 21, 2020 groupthink by irving lester janis, irving l. He had a history as an experimental social psychologist and certainly.
Methodological and theoretical problems with janis. Second, the paper discribes how groupthink contributed to unethical behavior in three organizations beechnut, e. Einerseits handelt es sich hierbei um ein sehr komplexes modell, denn es enthalt sehr viele variablen, deren logische verknupfung einigerma. Psychological studies of policy decisions and fiascoes in 1982, the concept of groupthink was used by whom. A psychological study of foreignpolicy decisions and fiascoes, which focused on the psychological mechanism behind foreign policy decisions such as the pearl harbor bombing, the vietnam war, and the bay of pigs. This high stress might come from pressures from outside the group. Another approach relies on the variables that pertain to group dynamics and to behavior under stress janis, 1972, 1982. Preexisting conditions lead groups to concurrence seeking. Janis victims of groupthink paul t hart1 introduction victims of groupthink. Irving janis, victims of groupthink, houghton mifflin, boston.
Psychological studies of policy decisions and fiascoes, second edition, new york. Abstract irving janis introduced the theory of groupthink in his classic study victims of groupthink in 1972. Apr 01, 1985 the effects of group cohesiveness and leader behavior on janis 1982 symptoms of defective decision making were investigated within a laboratory setting. Groupthink decisions, then, like authoritarian decisions, tend. In a groupthink situation, each member of the group attempts to conform his or her opinions to what they believe to be the consensus of the group.
Janis groupthink was first published in a 1972 titled victims of groupthink. Janis originally defined groupthink as a mode of thinking that people engage. Irving lester janis may 26, 1918 november 15, 1990 was a research psychologist at yale university and a professor emeritus at the university of california, berkeley most famous for his theory of groupthink which described the systematic errors made by groups when making collective decisions. Articles warning of the dangers of groupthink and suggesting remedies appeared in management, psychology, and sociology periodicals. First, the paper discusses the importance of groupthink in contributing to unethical behavior. The methodology of janis s groupthink model has been largely criticised.
Twohundredeight college students were divided into fourperson groups to solve a hypothetical business problem during taperecorded group discussion sessions. Evaluating janis groupthink model of faulty decision. This study explored the heuristic value of janis 1982 groupthink and vigilant decision making models as explanations of failure and success in top management team decision making using the organizational group dynamicsqsort gdq. Linking groupthink to unethical behavior in organizations. After the publication of janis book victims of groupthink in 1972, and a revised edition with the title groupthink. Authoritarian thinking, groupthink, and decisionmaking under. Concurrence seeking occurs when groups try to reach consensus in their final decision. Programs written in 4gls are generally far less efficient.
It is suggested that groupthink research is hampered by measurement problems. The model was created looking at historical case studies of presumably poor decision making processes, resulting in. Irving janis, yale social psychologist, was fascinated with the question of. The boxes on the left lay out the preconditions for a concurrenceseeking tendency to. Groupthink according to irving janis 1982 is a deterioration of mental efficiency, reality testing, and moral judgment, that results from ingroup pressure all academic inc. Janis 1982 used the label of groupthink interchangeably with concurrenceseeking, which w as not clearly described as a grouplevel variable. He made plausible the hypothesis that each of these events can, to a considerable extent, be attributed to the occurrence of a very. Methodological and theoretical problems with janis groupthink grin. Groupthink psychological studies of policy decisions and fiascoes 2nd edition by janis, irving l. The model was created looking at historical case studies of presumably poor decision making processes, resulting in disasters. What janis 1982 calls vigilant problemsolving is a model. Michael harvey and colleagues 2004 clarify distinctions between the abilene paradox and group think.
An important issue in the study of groups concerns the determinants of poor versus good decision making. Groups that work in the pharmaceutical industry experience stress from foodanddrugadministrationfdarequirements. Houghton mifflin, 1982 groupthink, a term coined by social psychologist irving janis 1972, occurs when a group makes faulty decisions because group pressures lead to a. Next, an overview of the history of groupthink research will be presented, followed by a conceptualization of the principal. Janis irving l 1982 groupthink psychological studies of. Janis 1982 observes three categories of symptoms of groupthink. Jervis, robert 1976 perceptions and misperceptions in international relations. I use the term groupthink as a quick and easy way to refer to the mode of thinking that persons engage in when concurrenceseeking becomes so dominant in a cohesive ingroup that it tends to override realistic appraisal of alternative courses in action. Evaluating janis groupthink model of faulty decision making. Next, a path analytic procedure was utilized to test the implied causal ordering of the groupthink model janis, 1982, p. Mar 19, 20 users can purchase an ebook on diskette or cd, but the most popular method of getting an ebook is to purchase a downloadable file of the ebook or other reading material from a web site such as barnes and noble to be read from the users computer or reading device. Groupthink psychological studies of policy decisions and fiascos. Groupthink is a concept introduced by irving janis 1972 to describe extreme consensus seeking tendencies in decisionmaking groups.
Groupthink the psychological drive for consensus at any cost that suppresses disagreement and prevents the appraisal of alternatives in cohesive decisionmaking groups. Effects of promotional leadership and conformity predisposition 2001 social behavior and personality. Groupthink is a mode of thinking that people engage in when they are deeply involved in a cohesive ingroup when the members strivings for unanimity override their motivation to realistically appraise alternative courses of action and a deterioration of mental efficiency, reality testing, and moral judgement that results from ingroup pressure janis, 1982, p. In the first edition victims of groupthink, iriving l. A psychological study of foreignpolicy decisions and fiascoes. Psychological studies of policy decisions and fiascoes. Psychological studies of policy decisions and fiascoes 17475 2d ed. Based on a sample of 343 respondents and multiple regression analysis, it is shown that perceived stress and group insulation have a positive influence upon groupthink, whilst group cohesion has a negative effect. In an unprecedented way, janis applied ideas from smallgroup analysis to the explanation of policy fiascoes. Jervis, robert 1976 perceptions and misperceptions in international. Janis 1972 groupthink theory to investigate customers tendency to conform when making decisions in a financial online community.
Oct, 2020 janis argues that groupthink happens in highly cohesive teams of decisionmakers who have a strong belief in their own and the leaders abilitieswhat he called the illusion of invulnerability. Groupthink is a psychological phenomenon that occurs within a group of people in which the desire for harmony or conformity in the group results in an irrational or dysfunctional decisionmaking outcome. According to janis, groupthink is detrimental to effective decisionmaking in that concurrence seeking becomes so dominant in a cohesive ingroup that it tends to override realistic appraisal of alternative. The characteristics of groupthink include a feeling of invulnerability, ability to rationalize events and decisions, moral superiority within the group, group pressure on dissenters, use of stereotypes, selfcensorship within the group, and unanimity. Pdf developing consensus about groupthink after all these years. Janis felt that such intense cohesion was likely to be found in very high echelon decision groups such as jfks cabinet or nixons inner circle of advisors where the perks of membership are at intoxicating levels and the credibility of fellow members is extremely high.
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