Read the scenario below. The team leader's reaction to the external report is a classic example of a specific symptom that can lead to flawed group decisions. Identify this symptom and explain how the leader's statement demonstrates it.

Group Decision-Making Analysis

When affected by groupthink, a group may develop stereotypes or negative attitudes towards out-groups or individuals who hold different viewpoints, viewing them as weak, evil, or biased.

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The presence of groupthink can be identified by several characteristic signs or symptoms. These indicators reveal that a group may be prioritizing consensus over critical evaluation, and they serve as a way to recognize when the phenomenon is occurring.

Symptoms of Groupthink

Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (2020, April 22). Psychology (2nd ed.). OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/1-introduction

OpenStax Psychology (2nd ed.) Textbook

A key symptom of groupthink is the group's perception of itself as invulnerable or invincible, which fosters an excessive optimism and encourages taking extreme risks under the belief that the group cannot fail.

Illusion of Invulnerability as a Symptom of Groupthink

When groupthink occurs, members often believe in the inherent morality of their group, assuming that their decisions and actions are fundamentally correct and ignoring the ethical or moral consequences of their decisions.

Belief in Inherent Morality as a Symptom of Groupthink

A sign of groupthink is when individual members practice self-censorship, deliberately withholding their own doubts, contrary information, or deviations from the perceived group consensus to avoid conflict.

Self-Censorship as a Symptom of Groupthink

In cases of groupthink, the opinions of members who dissent from the majority view are often actively quashed or silenced to maintain group harmony and the illusion of consensus.

Suppression of Dissent as a Symptom of Groupthink

Groupthink can be characterized by the behavior of certain members who act as 'mindguards,' shielding the group's leader from any views or information that might challenge the established consensus.

Shielding the Leader from Dissent as a Symptom of Groupthink

A common symptom of groupthink is the perception of an illusion of unanimity, where members mistakenly believe that everyone in the group is in complete agreement, often because silence is interpreted as consent.

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