PSYCHOLOGY
psychology
society
decisions
conformity
Groupthink: The Danger of Harmony
When a group cares more about getting along than being right, they make catastrophic decisions. Why smart people do stupid things together.
Irving Janis• 5 min read
The Bay of Pigs
President Kennedy and his advisors were smart men. Yet they planned the disastrous Bay of Pigs invasion. Why? Because no one wanted to be the one to say "This is a bad idea." They valued consensus over critical thinking.
Symptoms
Groupthink happens when:
- Illusion of Invulnerability: "We can't fail."
- Self-Censorship: "I won't speak up because everyone else agrees."
- Direct Pressure: "Don't ruin the vibe."
The Devil's Advocate
To fight groupthink, you must appoint a Devil's Advocate. Someone whose job is to disagree. Without conflict, there is no truth.