Since janiss original work in 1972, the theory of groupthink. Irving janis developed a study on group decision making based on human social behavior in which maintaining group cohesiveness and solidarity is felt as more important than considering the facts in a realistic manner. The model was created looking at historical case studies of presumably poor decision making processes, resulting in disasters. Griffin department of political science kent state university an important theory in the study of small group decision making is groupthink, developed by irving janis. A psychological study of foreign policy decisions and fiascoes. Irving janis introduced the theory of groupthink in his classic study victims of groupthink in 1972. Groupthink principles and fundamentals in organizations. Janis identified eight symptoms of groupthinkinvulnerability, rationale, morality, stereotyping, pressure, selfcensorship, unanimity, and mindguards 7, 9some of which may apply in particular but not all instances of the medical evaluation of. The tendency toward defective decision making within selfmanaging teams. By downloading this soft data publication victims of groupthink. Janis, 1982, houghton mifflin edition, in english 2nd ed. A psychological study of foreignpolicy decisions and. Apr 18, 2020 groupthink is a term first used in 1972 by social psychologist irving l. In studies of social clubs and other small groups, conformity.
A psychological study of foreignpolicy decisions and fiascoes irving lester janis houghton, mifflin, 1972 policy sciences 277 pages. A psychological study of foreign policy decisio and fiascoes by. Janis victims of groupthink pdf victims of groupthink. In many cases, people will set aside their own personal. Groupthink is a theory dedicated to understanding the decision making process in small groups. Victims of groupthink a psychological study of foreignpolicy decisions and fiascoes janis, irving lester on. Victims of groupthink a psychological study of foreignpolicy decisions and fiascoes hardcover january 1, 1972 by irving lester janis author 4. In groupthink developed by the social psychologist irving janis in his classic 1972 study, victims of groupthink. See all 7 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. A psychological study of foreignpolicy decisions and fiascoes janis, irving lester on. In 1967 janis was awarded the sociopsychological prize by the american association for the advancement of science.
While teaching a graduate seminar at the university of pennsylvania in 2016, frederick m. As a group hangs together and members grow to like each other, there will be greater pressure not to introduce disturbing information and opinion that might tear at. Pdf on jun 1, 1991, pault hart and others published irving l. Mar 25, 2020 janis victims of groupthink pdf victims of groupthink. Click download or read online button to victimsofgroupthink book pdf for free now. The oxford international encyclopedia of peace authors.
Groupthink refers to a deterioration of mental efficiency, reality testing, and moral judgment. If janis were alive today he would probably also examine clintons approval of the raid on the branch davidian compound in waco, texas. 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. Psychological studies of policy decisions and fiascoes in 1982, the concept of groupthink was used by whom. In an unprecedented way, janis applied ideas from smallgroup analysis to the explana tion of policy fiascoes. Victims of groupthink the kent state university board of trustees and the 1977 gymnasium controversy thomas r. Groupthink and the importance of behavioural diversity. Janis believes that groups mostly make decisions with profound consequences, and although he focused his efforts on foreign policy groups, the application of groupthink terminology resonates in many other decisionmaking groups.
Groupthink the term coined by research psychologist irving janis occurs when a group makes faulty decisions because group pressures lead to a deterioration of mental efficiency, reality testing and moral judgement. 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. 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. Janiss groupthink quick reference groupthink was made famous by irving janis in his book victims of groupthink. In a general sense this seems to be a rational way to approach the situation. He attempted to determine why groups, often consisting of individuals with exceptional intellect and talent, made irrational decisions. Irving janis in his book victims of groupthink originated the term groupthink.
You can be signed in via any or all of the methods shown below at the same time. 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. Irving l janis 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. In groupthink in his classic 1972 study, victims of groupthink. Janis in the on the internet link download, you remain in the primary step right to do. He attempted to determine why groups, oftenconsisting of individuals with exceptional intellect and talent, made irrational decisions.
Hess posed the question of the value of charter schools. A psychological study of foreignpolicy decisions and fiascoes. Victimsofgroupthink download victimsofgroupthink ebook pdf or read online books in pdf, epub, and mobi format. Cohesiveness, or the desire for cohesiveness, in a group may produce a tendency among its members to agree at all costs. A mode of thinking that people engage in when they are deeply involved in a cohesive group, when the. Janis victims of groupthink paul t hart1 introduction victims of groupthink. A psychological study of foreign policy decisions and fiascoes by irving l. For example, he previously published several books and chapters janis, 1958. Groupthink was made famous by irving janis in his book victims of groupthink.
In many cases, people will set aside their own personal beliefs or adopt the opinion of the rest of the group. The methodology of janiss groupthink model has been largely criticised. Effects of groupthink on tactical decisionmaking by major phillip m. Janis 1983 then investigated if the groupthink model could apply to the decision making. 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. Janis suggests four conditions that predispose a group to groupthink. 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. In an unprecedented way, janis applied ideas from smallgroup analysis to the explanation of policy fiascoes. He made plausible the hypothesis that each of these events can, to a considerable extent, be attributed to the occurrence of a very. 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. Irving l janis groupthink the psychological drive for consensus at any cost that suppresses disagreement and prevents the appraisal of alternatives in cohesive decisionmaking groups. In a groupthink situation, each member of the group attempts to conform his or her opinions to what they believe to be the consensus of the group. Janis 1983 then investigated if the groupthink model could apply to.
He concluded that groups often experienced groupthink, amode of thinking that people. Groupthink is a term coined by psychologist irving janis in 1972 to describe a process by which a group can make bad or irrational decisions. This is one of the key characteristics of groupthink. A psychological study of foreignpolicy decisions and fiascoes, by irving l. And, finally, different group decisionmaking techniques can be used to limit the effects of groupthink and other problems inherent in shared decision making. Janis victims of groupthink find, read and cite all the research you need on researchgate. Evaluating janis groupthink model of faulty decision making. 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. Groupthink is a term first used in 1972 by social psychologist irving l. In in 1972 the book victims of groupthink was published and it initially described the.
I use the term groupthink as a quick and easy way to refer to the mode of thinking that persons engage in when concurrenceseeking becomes so dominant in a cohesive ingroup that it tends to override realistic appraisal of alternative courses in action. A psychological study of foreignpolicy decisions and fiascos 1972 and his revised edition in 1982. How to avoid groupthink nine suggestions for avoiding groupthink are the following janis, 1982. Janis didnt regard chief executives or their advisors as stupid, lazy, or evil. Janis 1972 developed the groupthink theory based on assessment of some of the worst decisions or.
Patrick bratton groupthink was made famous by irving janis in his book victims of groupthink. Sign in here to access free tools such as favourites and alerts. Janis that refers to a psychological phenomenon in which people strive for consensus within a group. Although janis and later groupthink researchers contained the theory to small groups of tightknit policymakers, some scholars note its apt, although imperfect, application to wider social contexts. He made plausible the hypothesis that each of these events can, to a considerable extent, be attributed to the occurrence of a. Janis wrote or cowrote more than a dozen books, including psychological stress 1958, victims of groupthink 1972, decision making 1977, groupthink 1982, and crucial decisions 1989. Janis gave the following definition of groupthink gt. After the publication of janis book victims of groupthink in 1972, and a revised edition with the title groupthink. Most people credit the idea of groupthink to the social psychologist irving janis, who saw it as an organisational problem. Evaluating janis groupthink model of faulty decision. Irving janis, for instance, in one the most seminal works on this subject, victims of groupthink, states convincingly that group psychology, preserving group harmony and desire for personal. It is considered a disease of healthy groups, making them inefficient, unproductive, and irrational. A mode of thinking that people engage in when they are deeply involved in a cohesive group, when the members strivings for unanimity override their motivation to realistically appraise alternative courses of action.