Summary of Myers, D. (2 2012); Explor ring social psy ychology (6th h ed.

) New Y York: McGraw- Hill; Module e 20 (Pages 217- 231)

The cas se of the "R Risky Shift t" Examp ple: We ad dvise people to take more m risk i if we first d discuss wh hat advise to give with w a group Also, we w engage e in riskier situations s when in a group (fo or example e, more teenag gers die when they are a in groups, than w when they a are alone) But in some situ uations, gro oups are more m cautio ons becau use they ac ccentuate initial cautiousness (for ex xample, ad dvising a poor man o on not selling his only y life ins surance po olicy to buy risky sto ock) Do grou ups intensify opinion ns? - Seem ms that groups enhan nce group members's s initial le eanings. In n Moscovic ci and Zava alloni word ds (1969): " "Discussio on typically y strength hens the average inc clination of f group me embers" It happ pened in experiment e ts, it also happens h in n real life (n nerds beco ome nerdie er, and jo ocks jockie er) It happ pens in schools, in communitie c es, on the Internet, in n Terrorist t Organ nizations Explaining group polarizatio on. Two theories Inform mational inf fluence: Has to do with w the arg guments pr resented d during a discus ssion Norma ative influe ence: Has to t do with how mem bers of a g group view w themselv ves
When you think k that you know what oth her thinks an d you are co onvinced tha at they will disa agree with you (because e you think yo ou are better r than the av verage -self s serving bias-) and then you find ou ut that every yone thinks like you (exa mple: when two people l like each oth her t think that th he other does sn't like them m) but Also, people ca an quickly ad djust their po ositions to im mprove, main ntain or favor r their own s social pos sition Also, when kno owing the "tre ends", peopl le contribute e to that trend (most watc ched videos, , etc. ...)

Groupth hink: A dan ngerous te endency th hat groups have to su uppress di issent in th he interest t of group harmony, h not n the gro oup goals Examp ples of stu upid thinkin ng in Pearl l Harbor, B Bay of Pigs s and the V Vietnam wa ar Eleme ents of groupthink (B By Irving Ja anis, 1971/ /82)
A cohesive grou up Isol lation of the group from dissenting viewpoints v Dire ective leader r who signals s the favored d decision

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Summary of Myers, D. (2012); Exploring social psychology (6th ed.) New York: McGraw- Hill; Module 20 (Pages 217- 231)

Symptoms of Groupthink (By Irving Janis, 1971/82)

Excessive optimism, illusion of invulnerability Unquestioned belief in group's morality Group members become close-minded Rationalization: spend more time trying to rationalize the wrong decision, than trying to find a new one Stereotyped view of opponent: Consider the enemy too evil or too stupid The group is pressured toward uniformity Conformity pressure: Group members begin to attack the dissenting members with sarcasm and ridiculing Self-censorship: People decide to remain silent so they don't get into trouble Illusion of unanimity: apparent consensus

Groupthink in action

Preventing Groupthink
Be impartial Encourage critical evaluation. Assign a "devil's advocate" Welcome the input of the dissenter Occassionally subdivide and reunite the group Welcome critiques from outside Before implementing, call a "second chance" call to air any doubts

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