Recent Research Critiquing the Theory of Groupthink Communication Theory, COMM 25902 Professor Ponder April 13, 2010 Groupthink is a common method of deliberating used by members in a group in order to reduce conflict and promote unanimity. People are often unwilling to share conflicting viewpoints to a group of those who hold the same perspective on a subject. Irving Janis developed Groupthink while studying foreign policy decision-making. In doing so, he maintained that
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The Groupthink Theory “Researchers have studied the influence of group pressure on individual members” (Byars and Rue, 2007, 238). As defined by Byars and Rue “when group members lose their ability to think as individuals and conform at the expense of their good judgment, groupthink occurs. Members become unwilling to say anything against the group or any member, even if an action is wrong” (Byars and Rue, 2007, 238). “Keeping a group together under any circumstance is a goal in itself. Groups
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have to work in groups. This is where the term ‘groupthink’ comes into play. Group think is thinking as a group trying not to force your own individual opinions, biases, and creativity for sakes of the group. A mentality that says the group is more important than my individual self. The research conducted over this topic will give us a better understanding of groupthink and group decision making. This research will also argue and support if groupthink is said to be positive or negative according to
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Avoiding Abilene Bea Carson Page 1 5/22/2006 AVOIDING ABILENE: BREAKING OUT OF GROUPTHINK by Dr. Bea Carson Introduction Have you been trapped in the frustration of meetings that were not functioning well? Have you sat in a meeting where you did not speak your mind because you knew the risk, or the futility of it? Perhaps you suffered in more bad meetings than you participated in useful ones. Did meetings, when nothing of value was accomplished, seem a terrible waste of time, yours
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Assignment of General Management on the Abilene Paradox: The Management of Agreement Joseph NGENZI MPAM/3020/11 This Term Paper is Submitted in partial fulfillment of UNIT MBA 603 grades of the School of Business and Public Management for the award of Master of Public Administration and Management. Mt. Kenya University July, 2011 INTRODUCTION Four adults are sitting on a porch in 104-degree heat in the small town of Coleman, Texas, some 53 miles from Abilene. They are engaging in
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Various Ways to Prevent Group-think * Foster open climate for discussion ① Seating Arrangement Seating arrangement is important in creating an open atmosphere for discussion. Most organizations are hierarchical so that it is usually hard for subordinates to express their ideas directly to their heads. If members of an organization seat in orderly manner by their positions, there should be an invisible wall, which prevents from expressing their ideas. Thus, the climate is rather formal
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Leading Ideas: Revisiting the Abilene Paradox: Is Management of Agreement Still an Issue? | |by Kathryn J. Deiss, ARL Office of Leadership and Management Services Program Manager In 1974, Professor Jerry Harvey of George Washington University developed a parable from a real-life experience to describe the issues surrounding how individuals reach agreement, or, more specifically, believe they have reached agreement. Twenty-five years later the lessons and insights his parable generates are still
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Abstract Groupthink can have has its positives and its negatives depending on who you ask and the mindset of the people working together. Groupthink happens most often when the group is already cohesive, is isolated from conflicting opinions and where the leader is open and directive. Groupthink is what takes place when group work happens. Groupthink happens most often when the group is already unified, is isolated from disagreeing sentiments and where the leader is open and directive. External
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The term "groupthink" was a theory developed by psychologist Irving Janis. The theory was intended to explain bad decisions and outcomes made by governments and businesses, which Janis sometimes called "fiascoes." (Vore, 2013) He was really interested in situations where pressure with the group seemed to result in a failure to think clearly. Janis defined groupthink as "a quick and easy way to refer to a mode of thinking people engage in when they are deeply involved in a cohesive in-group, when
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This section will look into the term “Groupthink” and how it correlates with Charles Manson and The Manson Family cult. Groupthink, as defined by social psychologist Irving Janis is, “a mode of thinking that people engage in when they are deeply involved in a cohesive in-group, when the members striving for unanimity override their motivation to realistic appraise alternative courses of action…Groupthink refers to a deterioration of mental efficiency, reality testing, and moral judgement that results
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