What is "groupthink" as it applies to a disaster? How does "groupthink" apply to your survival odds? Can you think of a situation where you experienced groupthink (not necessarily in a disaster)?
Groupthink is a thought within a cohesive group whose members try to reduce conflict and reach consensus without critically testing, analyzing, and evaluating ideas, and usually lead to bad decisions. As it applies to a disaster, people form a group and try to survive together. It is very hard for people to think critically in that situation; group members might just adopt the first idea someone comes up with. This experience is not very intense but it happens in daily life: My friends and I were walking from A to B, we both know how to get there through path C, but we went to path D just because “I thought you wanted to go from here.” “Oh.. no~ I though you wanted to pick up something on the way.”
My understanding of groupthink is that it is when a small group makes poor decisions because of a lack of communication, ignorance of alternatives, and self censorship, among other things.
I experience groupthink constantly with my RA staff. We're constantly bouncing ideas around for problem solving. Many times, I'll keep my best ideas in my head. Who knows why.....?
"Groupthink" is when the members in a group try to minimize the conflict and come to a solution. "Groupthink" is a result of the group's inability to communicated, accept alternatives, and manage the situation. Because the role of the leader has become indirect, in a crisis "groupthink" can potentially harm the outcome of the situation.
A similar everyday situation can be in a group discussion or debate when you go in with your own beliefs and opinion of the topic but as you continue to discuss the issues your understanding of the issues becomes mottled. This isn't because you don't know how to support your arguments but because your ideas have become fillers. I think I a way of avoiding that is to go in with your own understandings and supportive claims but be open to other ideas because I think often we get so caught up in defending our own and forget there are differences of opinions.
My understanding of the concept of Groupthink are the reactions, opinions, and communicatory emotions in the most raw form that come from a person or group of people in a common dilemma: more specifically a crowd of people in a disaster of some kind.
My observation of the idea of Groupthink can be easily applied a group of students on a camping trip. While this was not a disaster, the similar principles of will to survive, to lead, and to follow all spread through the minds of the students on the trip. When they were told that they as a group would have to navigate, and ration their own food for four days on the trail, it was fascinating to watch how leaders emerged and followers quickly supported any idea that was proposed. In survival situations the fight or flight response is the most basic underlying concept that explains any decision, or logical reasoning proposed by an individual. If that individual is a leader, a group will follow his idea.
According to the text the definition of Groupthink is the adaptive strategy of prioritizing group harmony. Groupthink, to me, is a collection of ideas (helpful or not) developed by a leader or a group of people in order to reach a conclusion. Everyone has an opinion but not everyone is willing to share. Unless the person or group can gain something out of their help, it is unlikely that he/she/they will help... unless there's a disaster... right?
Conflicting ideas will cause more chaos and divide the group and we learned that working as a group in a disaster is better than working individually. This is for a few reasons, mental and emotional stability, physical help and connection. The odds of survival are higher when a group decision is reached sooner rather than later.
During a group activity, I tend to gravitate towards the leader position because I like to take control of every situation I am in. Okay, I do not know how accurate that statement is because that is not always true. My opinions and idea almost always conflict with other group members. I hate being wrong but I do know how to take responsibility. Let's say Ho and I are working together in a group. We are bound to fight because we disagree most of the time but when we do agree on something, it's great and something (anything) is accomplished. In a time of disaster, we might disagree at first but our gut instinct will connect (hopefully).
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ReplyDeleteGroupthink is a thought within a cohesive group whose members try to reduce conflict and reach consensus without critically testing, analyzing, and evaluating ideas, and usually lead to bad decisions. As it applies to a disaster, people form a group and try to survive together. It is very hard for people to think critically in that situation; group members might just adopt the first idea someone comes up with.
ReplyDeleteThis experience is not very intense but it happens in daily life:
My friends and I were walking from A to B, we both know how to get there through path C, but we went to path D just because “I thought you wanted to go from here.” “Oh.. no~ I though you wanted to pick up something on the way.”
My understanding of groupthink is that it is when a small group makes poor decisions because of a lack of communication, ignorance of alternatives, and self censorship, among other things.
ReplyDeleteI experience groupthink constantly with my RA staff. We're constantly bouncing ideas around for problem solving. Many times, I'll keep my best ideas in my head. Who knows why.....?
"Groupthink" is when the members in a group try to minimize the conflict and come to a solution. "Groupthink" is a result of the group's inability to communicated, accept alternatives, and manage the situation. Because the role of the leader has become indirect, in a crisis "groupthink" can potentially harm the outcome of the situation.
ReplyDeleteA similar everyday situation can be in a group discussion or debate when you go in with your own beliefs and opinion of the topic but as you continue to discuss the issues your understanding of the issues becomes mottled. This isn't because you don't know how to support your arguments but because your ideas have become fillers. I think I a way of avoiding that is to go in with your own understandings and supportive claims but be open to other ideas because I think often we get so caught up in defending our own and forget there are differences of opinions.
My understanding of the concept of Groupthink are the reactions, opinions, and communicatory emotions in the most raw form that come from a person or group of people in a common dilemma: more specifically a crowd of people in a disaster of some kind.
ReplyDeleteMy observation of the idea of Groupthink can be easily applied a group of students on a camping trip. While this was not a disaster, the similar principles of will to survive, to lead, and to follow all spread through the minds of the students on the trip. When they were told that they as a group would have to navigate, and ration their own food for four days on the trail, it was fascinating to watch how leaders emerged and followers quickly supported any idea that was proposed. In survival situations the fight or flight response is the most basic underlying concept that explains any decision, or logical reasoning proposed by an individual. If that individual is a leader, a group will follow his idea.
According to the text the definition of Groupthink is the adaptive strategy of prioritizing group harmony. Groupthink, to me, is a collection of ideas (helpful or not) developed by a leader or a group of people in order to reach a conclusion. Everyone has an opinion but not everyone is willing to share. Unless the person or group can gain something out of their help, it is unlikely that he/she/they will help... unless there's a disaster... right?
ReplyDeleteConflicting ideas will cause more chaos and divide the group and we learned that working as a group in a disaster is better than working individually. This is for a few reasons, mental and emotional stability, physical help and connection. The odds of survival are higher when a group decision is reached sooner rather than later.
During a group activity, I tend to gravitate towards the leader position because I like to take control of every situation I am in. Okay, I do not know how accurate that statement is because that is not always true. My opinions and idea almost always conflict with other group members. I hate being wrong but I do know how to take responsibility. Let's say Ho and I are working together in a group. We are bound to fight because we disagree most of the time but when we do agree on something, it's great and something (anything) is accomplished. In a time of disaster, we might disagree at first but our gut instinct will connect (hopefully).