GroupThink+in+Psychology

= **What is Groupthink? :** Groupthink is a psychological concern in groups related to decision-making in important circumstances. This is usually considered a flaw because it does not allow independence and creativity in group situations. =



== //Summary:// Groupthink is commonly used in group settings when people become too aquainted with the group to the extent that they can't make decisions independently, and will try to avoid any criticism. The research related to the concept of groupthink shows that those who experience groupthink have a loss of creativity and individuality. Irving Janis studied the theory of groupthink more than any psychologist who previously studied the idea. He explored the idea using military personnel and how they react in hostile situations, particularly those who were in historic locations such as, Pearl Harbor, the Bay of Pigs, and Watergate. The idea of groupthink can be useful when facing certain situations allowing the group to come to a conformed decision rather than causing an arguement or disagreement, but can also take away from each individual's own creative and imaginative ideas, which can result in conformity in a group. ==

==Irving Janis developed **eight symptoms** caused by groupthink in which people become less independent. == ==The link below demonstrates Irving's symptoms and a description of what effect they have on a group == .[|Click here for Irving's symptoms of Groupthink]

[|Want to know more about Irving Janis? Click here!]

**Videos on how groupthink effects group decision-making**:
This video was used to determine how the group made a faulty decision with The Challenger shuttle. The second video is an experiment about group conformity

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How it is connected to NHS community: People are constantly influenced by their own motivations to be friends with a group of people that they willl conform to that groups decision in order to feel accepted. The idea of peer pressure is relevant in this topic because many NHS students will develop a habit if their friends do it. For example, once Ipods started to become more popular, students would advance and get an Ipod. Uggs are an example of groupthink because they are only one specific type of shoe, but many people buy them because of others who have already purchased them. Another example that relates to groupthink is the idea of sneaking out the door before the bell rings in school. Once one student leaves, the next student is influenced by the other and then progresses to leave.

 Bibliography:

Borchers, Tim. "Groupthink." //Small Group Communication//. Allyn and Bacon, 1999.

Web. 20 Mar. 2012. .

"Irving Janis (1918-1990)." //Irving Janis Biography//. GoodTherapy.org, 2010. Web. 22 Mar. 2012. .