A psychological study of foreignpolicy decisions and fiascoes, which focused on the psychological mechanism behind foreign policy decisions such as the pearl harbor bombing, the vietnam war, and the bay of pigs invasion. Study 22 groupthink irving janis, 1972, 1982 exam2 flashcards from amwe g. Janis 1982 observes three categories of symptoms of groupthink. Janis listed eight symptoms that show that concurrence seek ing has led the group astray. The groupthink model the impact of groupthink on decision. Janis attributed the causes of groupthink in the bay of pigs to cohesion, secrecy, biased leadership, and lack of critical methodology. Janis was a research psychologist at yale university and a professor emeritus at the university of california, berkeley most famous for his theory of groupthink which described the systematic errors made by groups when taking collective. Proposes guidelines for research to test the propositions of groupthink. Psychological studies of policy decisions and fiascoes. Finally, guidelinesfor research to test the propositions of groupthink are proposed. He did extensive work in the area of groupthink, which describes the tendency of. A read is counted each time someone views a publication summary such as the title, abstract, and list of authors, clicks on a figure, or views or downloads the fulltext.
Groupthink has been revealed in a number of operations management contexts, including production and quality control, new product development, and disaster operations. Irving janis 1972, 1982,1989 was the most influential advocate of strong processoutcome links in group decision making. Interpersonal relations and group processes assessing. Professionalismirving janis and groupthink wikibooks, open. In this new framework, the lack of vigilance and preference for risk that characterizes. The potential for groupthink in autonomous work groups. Consequently, janis argues that groupthink cuts across national boundaries and economic sectors. Groupthink psychological studies of policy decisions and fiascos. Irving janis, victims of groupthink, houghton mifflin, boston. Irving janis, yale social psychologist, was fascinated with the question of. Methodological and theoretical problems with janis groupthink theory by marcos alonso rodriguez. Through a series of indepth case studies of historical incidents of group decisionmaking, successful and unsuccessful, janis adduces prima facie evidence that a principal impediment to good decisionmaking is groupthink, a syndrome in which. Janis 1983 then investigated if the groupthink model could apply to the decision making process in the fiascos, if groupthink did affect the decision process it could be determined as the cause of the policy failure janis, 1983.
A reappraisal of the groupthink phenomenon and a new model of group decision processes ramon j. Janiss 1982 model of groupthink theory identifies three types of observable consequences of groupthink. Government policy examples analyzed for groupthink. The primary research goal here was to assess the usefulness of janis 1982 analysis of groupthink and vigilant decision making for understanding failure and success of top management teams. Two heads are better than one is a common misconception people have that group discussions and decisions are better than working individually.
Buy group think 2nd revised edition by janis, irving lester isbn. Janis victims of groupthink paul t hart1 introduction victims of groupthink. Reviews previous research on group dynamics related to groupthink. Groups that work in the pharmaceutical industry experience stress from foodanddrugadministrationfdarequirements. Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. Articles warning of the dangers of groupthink and suggesting remedies appeared in management, psychology, and sociology periodicals. One analysis of a number of small group decisions by irving l. According to janis 1971,1972,1982,1989, groupthink results in a number of consequences that interfere with effective group decision making. Diverse perspectives on the groupthink theory a literary. Aldag and sally riggs fuller in the past two decades, there has been a substantial increase in emphasis on groups in organizations in general e. Irving janis 1972,1982,1989 was the most influential advocate of strong processoutcome links in group decision making.
Evaluating janis groupthink model of faulty decision making. In an unprecedented way, janis applied ideas from smallgroup analysis to the explana tion of policy fiascoes. Therefore it is seen as a process which turns competent and prolific groups into incompetent and unproductive ones on the basis of defective decision making. Janis 1982 explicitly defined the context in which group. Groupthink according to irving janis 1982 is a deterioration of mental efficiency.
Psychological studies of policy decisions and fiascoes irving lester janis snippet view 1982. Psychological studies of policy decisions and fiascoes by irving l. Ppt groupthink theory free download as powerpoint presentation. Janis identifies the causes and fateful consequences of groupthink, the process that takes over when decisionmaking bodies agree for the sake of agreeing to abandon their critical judgment. After the publication of janis book victims of groupthink in 1972, and a revised edition with the title groupthink. Evaluating janis groupthink model of faulty decision making in groups ps2030 social psychology word count. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Symptoms of groupthink what are the signs that group loyalty has caused members to slip into a group think mentality. In the context of production and quality control teams, we found three case studies conducted. Groupthink according to irving janis 1982 is a deterioration of mental efficiency, reality testing, and moral judgment, that results from ingroup pressure all academic inc. Recommended further reading further information on groupthink can be found in i. Groupthink irving janis, 1972, 1982 exam2 communication 4020 with anders at university of north texas studyblue. In his work on groupthink, janis 1982 argued that polthis study was supported by funds from the macarthur foundation and the.
Methodological and theoretical problems with janis. Victims of groupthink 1972, decision making 1977, groupthink 1982, and crucial. Janis uses several case studies of what he considers to be groupthink the bay of pigs invasion, the escalation of the korean war in 1950, the attack on pearl harbor while the fortress slept, and escalation of the viet nam war. Groupthink is a psychological phenomenon that occurs within a group of people in which the. The effects of group cohesiveness and leader behavior on janis 1982 symptoms of.
Although janis groupthink theory was based on historical case studies and not empirical evidence it quickly found mass appeal. In groupthink in his classic 1972 study, victims of groupthink. Psychological studies of policy decisions and fiascoes in 1982, the concept of groupthink was used by whom. Statement of the problem to develop a reliable assessment process for determining if groupthink characteristics are present in a military unit. Guarding against groupthink in the professional work. Is vigilant decision making the cureall for group decision making ills as janis 1982 argued. Oct 26, 2011 groupthink by irving lester janis, irving l.
According to janis, groupthink stands for an excessive form of concurrence. Groupthink irving janis, 1972, 1982 exam2 communication. Janis uses several case studies of what he considers to be groupthinkthe bay of pigs invasion, the escalation of the korean war in 1950, the attack on pearl harbor while the fortress slept, and escalation of the viet nam war. Apr 05, 20 through a series of indepth case studies of historical incidents of group decisionmaking, successful and unsuccessful, janis adduces prima facie evidence that a principal impediment to good decisionmaking is groupthink, a syndrome in which internal group pressures toward conformity and amicability are allowed to override reality testing. The theory of groupthink was first developed by the social psychologist irving janis in his classic 1972 study, victims of groupthink. For the last two years i have been studying that question, as it applies not only to the bay of pigs decisionmakers but also to those. Janis and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. This article summarizes the groupthink concept and provides an overview of the diversity of views regarding groupthinks validity. Irving janis attributed the cause of the disaster to groupthink. Groupthink principles and fundamentals in organizations. Irving lester janis may 26, 1918 november 15, 1990 was a research psychologist at yale university and a professor emeritus at the university of california, berkeley most famous for his theory of groupthink which described the systematic errors made by groups when making collective decisions. Irving lester janis may 26, 1918 november 15, 1990 was a research psychologist at yale. A danger to the effectiveness of autonomous work groups is the potential for groupthink.
Psychological studies of political decisionmaking reflect different orientations and research. Irving lester janis developed a study on decision making based on human social behavior in which maintaining group cohesiveness and solidarity is felt more important than considering the facts in a realistic manner. Groupthink and the ubiquitous nature of polarized group decisionmaking. Groupthink is described and suggested to provide a useful observational behavioral category system for studying autonomous work group decision processes. Groupthink psychological studies of policy decisions. Pratkanis u n iversitt oj calijornia, s anta cruz in this paper, we examine the historical development of the groupthink model and discuss recenl responses to the body of. Janis was a research psychologist at yale university and a professor emeritus at the university of california, berkeley most famous for his theory of groupthink which described the systematic errors made by groups when taking collective decisions. Janis irving l 1982 groupthink psychological studies of. In studies of social clubs and other small groups, conformity pressures have frequently been observed. Groupthink is a mode of thinking that people engage in when they are deeply involved in a cohesive ingroup when the members strivings for unanimity override their motivation to realistically appraise alternative courses of action and a deterioration of mental efficiency, reality testing, and moral judgement that results from ingroup pressure janis, 1982, p. Groupthink is a psychological phenomenon that occurs within a group of people in which the desire for harmony or conformity in the group results in an irrational or dysfunctional decisionmaking outcome. And, finally, different group decisionmaking techniques can be used to limit the effects of groupthink and other problems inherent in shared decision making. Janis published an influential book in 1972, which was revised in 1982. Janis originally defined groupthink as a mode of thinking that people engage.
Kennedy asked after he and a close group of advisors had blundered into the bay of pigs invasion. Groupthink by irving janis early draft how could we have been so stupid. Janis 1972, analyzing policy decisions such as the bay of pigs invasion, the cuban missile crisis and the escalation of the vietnam war, identi. A psychological study of foreign policy decisions and fiascoes by irving l. In his work on groupthink, janis 1982 argued that polthis study was supported by funds from the macarthur foundation and the institute on global conflict and cooperation. Janis showed how this phenomenon contributed to some of the major u. In the first edition victims of groupthink, iriving l. The effect of groupthink on the afghanistan and iraq wars. Twentyfive years of groupthink theory and research.
Pdf on jun 1, 1991, pault hart and others published irving l. Janis felt that such intense cohesion was likely to be found in very high echelon decision groups such as. The invasion was an utter failure when about 20,000 cuban soldiers ended the assault within three days. The introduction of a work system based on autonomous work groups is one such strategy. A psychological study of foreignpolicy decisions and fiascoes, which focused on the psychological mechanism behind foreign policy decisions such as the pearl harbor bombing, the vietnam war, and the bay of pigs. A psychological study of foreignpolicy decisions and fiascoes. Guarding against groupthink in the professional work environment. Janis, 1982, houghton mifflin edition, in english 2nd ed. Related work janis, irving lester, 1918 victims of groupthink. This high stress might come from pressures from outside the group. Psychological studies of policy decision and fiascoes. Janis irving l 1982 groupthink psychological studies of policy decisions and from hrmt 101 at american public university. A quarter ofa century ago, irving janis proposed a theory to help answer at least some of these questions. Janis, entitled groupthink, discovered that there was always fear of exclusion and rejection by members of the group, and the primary purpose became to keep the group cohesive.
That theory, groupthink, would go on to be one of the most influential in the behavioral sciences. Janis victims of groupthink find, read and cite all the. Evaluating janis groupthink model of faulty decision. Janis summarizes this attitude as everything is going to work out all right because we are a special group. Janis felt that such intense cohesion was likely to be found in very high echelon decision groups such as jfks cabinet or nixons inner circle of advisors where the perks of membership are at intoxicating levels and the credibility of fellow members is extremely high. Groupthink the psychological drive for consensus at any cost that suppresses disagreement and prevents the appraisal of alternatives in cohesive decisionmaking groups. Reviews the major tenets of the groupthink hypothesis of irving janis, as well as the research on which it is based. The key role of collective efficacy in decision fiascoes. How to avoid groupthink nine suggestions for avoiding groupthink are the following janis, 1982. In short, groupthink is more likely to occur in times of high stress. Group members try to minimize conflict and reach a consensus decision without critical evaluation of alternative viewpoints by actively suppressing dissenting viewpoints, and by isolating. Janis was convinced that the concurrenceseeking tendency of closeknit groups can cause them to make inferior decisions. Groupthink became extremely popular in a wide range of literature.