Final answer:
Groupthink is a psychological phenomenon where the conforming desire in a group leads to poor decision outcomes without critically evaluating alternatives. Strategies to avoid groupthink include open debate, seeking outside opinions, and thorough discussion of all viewpoints.
Step-by-step explanation:
Groupthink Definition
Groupthink is a psychological phenomenon that occurs within a group of people where the desire for harmony or conformity results in an irrational or dysfunctional decision-making outcome. The members of the group attempt to minimize conflict and reach a consensus decision without critical evaluation of alternative viewpoints. This is primarily due to self-censorship, an illusion of invulnerability, an unquestioned belief in the group’s morality, and excessive stereotyping. Groupthink leads to the prevention of conflicting ideas and is characterized by members modifying their opinions to align with what they believe is the group consensus.
How to Avoid Groupthink
To avoid groupthink, several strategies can be employed, such as encouraging open debate, seeking outside opinions, having leaders withhold their opinions, voting in private, and thoroughly discussing the alternatives. This helps to ensure that all possible ideas and objections are considered, reducing the risk of poor decision-making due to groupthink.