KM Discussion 14: Groupthink

Key Takeaways

• Three examples where groupthink is widely believed to have been a large factor: 1986 Space Shuttle Challenger Explosion; Iraq War; Boeing 737 Max crashes.

• Irving Janis (May 26, 1918 – November 15, 1990) was a research psychologist who pioneered the initial research into groupthink theory.

• Janis defined groupthink as: "A mode of thinking that people engage in when they are deeply involved in a cohesive in-group, when the members' strivings or unanimity override their motivation to realistically appraise alternative courses of action".

• In his 1972 publication “Victims of Groupthink”, Janis identified eight symptoms: invulnerability, rationalization, morality, stereotyping, pressure, self-censorship, unanimity, mindguards.

References

Janis, Irving L. (1972), Victims of Groupthink: A psychological study of foreign-policy decisions and fiascoes. Houghton Mifflin Company.

Presidential Commission, On the Space Shuttle Challenger Accident, 1986.

United States, Congress, House, The House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure, The Design, Development & Certification of the Boeing 737 Max, 2020.

United States, Congress, Senate, Select Committee on Intelligence. U.S. Intelligence Community's Prewar Intelligence Assessments on Iraq, 2004. 106th Congress, 2nd session, Senate Report 108-301.