Groupthink: Definition and Symptoms

Groupthink

the psychological drive for consensus at any cost that suppresses disagreement and prevents the appraisal of alternatives in cohesive decision-making groups. (Irving L. Janis)

Symptoms:

1. Illusion of invulnerability – creates excessive optimism, promotes extreme risks
2. Collective rationalization – members discount warnings and do not reconsider their assumptions
3. Belief in inherent morality – members believe in the rightness of their cause and therefore ignore the ethical or moral consequences of their decisions
4. Stereotyped views of out-groups – negative views of “enemy” make effective responses to conflict seem unnecessary
5. Direct pressure on dissenters – members are under pressure not to express arguments against any of the group’s views
6. Self-censorship – doubts and deviations from the perceived group consensus are not expressed
7. Illusion of unanimity – the majority view and judgments are assumed to be unanimous
8. Self-appointed ‘mindguards’ – members protect the group and the leader from information that is problematic or contradictory to the group’s cohesiveness, view, and/or decisions

This weakness can manifest in either "side" of any controversy. It seems to me that the best defense against groupthink is tolerance and listening.