Final answer:
Groupthink occurs when the desire for group harmony leads to poor decision-making, with group decisions being potentially more extreme than those of individual members. Avoiding groupthink involves seeking outside opinions and ensuring all voices are heard. Recognizing groupthink involves being aware of symptoms like perceived invincibility and excessive agreement.
Step-by-step explanation:
Groupthink is a psychological phenomenon that occurs within a group of people when the desire for harmony or conformity in the group results in an irrational or dysfunctional decision-making outcome. Often during a decision-making process, the group members suppress dissenting viewpoints, isolate themselves from outside influences, and believe that their choices are invulnerable and morally correct. This can lead to outcomes where the group makes decisions that individual members would not support outside the group context.
- Examples and Avoidance of Groupthink
A personal example of groupthink could be when a committee at work decides to implement a policy without thoroughly considering the alternatives because they believe the initial idea is superior and want to maintain group cohesion. To avoid groupthink, it is important to seek outside opinions, hold private voting, encourage a wide range of viewpoints, and establish contingency plans.
Another related concept is group polarization, where discussions within a group tend to make the group's prevailing opinions more extreme. This can further fuel groupthink if not properly managed.
- Symptoms and Recognition of Groupthink
To recognize groupthink, one should be aware of the symptoms such as perceived invincibility, moral correctness, and self-censorship among group members. It is vital for individuals in groups to remain critical and independent in their thinking and to encourage open discussion to prevent groupthink.