Groupthink and Group Shift (VCE SSCE Psychology): Flashcards

Group harmony/loyalty prioritised over best decisions

Group displays excessive optimism & takes significant risks

Individuals think if they alone disagree, they must be wrong

Similar members, powerful leader, lack of expertise, high stress

Poor decisions, incomplete alternatives, selective bias

Groupthink led NASA to override warnings about O-ring seals

Discussion leads group to adopt more extreme attitudes/actions

1961: Group decisions are riskier than individual ones

Members not held responsible for collective decisions

Group shift is a subset of groupthink