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Group Think
Groupthink refers to a collective and limiting process that occurs in groups where decision-making is a priority. When groups are driven towards quick decision-making, the tendency is often to suppress dissent and a consideration of alternatives in favor of reaching consensus. The results of this process range from benignly limited decisions up to catastrophic and tragic consequences.
Groups that are most prone to this type of process are those who are cohesive and isolated. Other internal factors include a biased leader, unclear procedures, and homogeneous members. Externally, groups can be influenced by threatening situations that need quick decisions, and where no good solution is immediately evident. Recent failures, current difficulties and moral dilemmas can also drive poor decision-making as a result of groupthink.
Samuel R. Sommers (2006) investigated this phenomenon as it applies to the racial dynamic in juries. Investigating deliberations by mock juries, the author found that white persons in diverse groups would not be as susceptible to groupthink dynamics as those in all-white groups. Whereas the latter would be less lenient towards a black defendant, white participants in a diverse jury would show more leniency, indicating the homogeneity drive towards groupthink.
Groupthink can also influence the wider cultural context. Mullen, Calogero and Leader (2007) for example examined the phenomenon known as ethnonyms among different racial groups. Ethnonyms is a term referring to the designations that an in-group uses to distinguish itself from out-groups. These influence the groupthink dynamic, as it encourages homogeneous thinking and paradigms. Indeed, the authors found that intergroup hostility is directly related to these ethnonyms. The dangers of groupthink can therefore be avoided by encouraging diversity and critical thinking on the internal level.
References
Mullen, Brian, Calogero, Rachel M., Leader, Tirza I. (2007, Apr.). A social psychological study of ethnonyms: Cognitive representation of the in-group and intergroup hostility.
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. Vol 92(4), pp. 612-630.
Sommers, Samuel R. (2006, Apr.). On racial diversity and group decision making: Identifying multiple effects of racial composition on jury deliberations.
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. Vol 90(4), pp. 597-612.
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