Psychology
What is Groupthink?
Groupthink is when a group values harmony and agreement so much that it makes poor decisions. Members suppress doubts, ignore alternatives, and go along with the consensus — even when it's clearly flawed — to avoid conflict.
See it, don’t just read it.
Watch a 2-minute lesson with voice + animation that explains groupthink.
Key things to understand
- 1Groups prioritize agreement over critical thinking.
- 2Members self-censor doubts to keep harmony.
- 3Alternatives and risks get ignored.
- 4It can lead to bad or even disastrous decisions.
Frequently asked questions
- What is groupthink?
- When a group's desire for harmony overrides realistic appraisal, leading to poor decisions.
- What causes groupthink?
- Pressure to conform, strong leaders, isolation from outside views, and a desire to avoid conflict.
- How can you prevent groupthink?
- Encourage dissent, invite outside opinions, assign a 'devil's advocate', and allow anonymous feedback.