“When all think alike, no one thinks very much.” – Walter Lippmann, 2 times Pulitzer Prize winning American journalist
Free-thinkers will all struggle at times to comprehend why mainstream viewpoints can remain unquestioned by those around them. Why people will aggressively push the dominant viewpoint even when it’s outdated, unhelpful, or even blatantly contradicted by evidence. Why these viewpoints leave no room for others to hold differing ones, and complete conformity is often the end goal, even though free-thinkers advocate individual freedom and choice.
How can free-thinkers comprehend the static viewpoints many hold about the important issues that affect our lives? Issues that free-thinkers see as demanding continuous, rigorous debate and evaluation, and an openness to adaptation and change. Issues regarding lifestyles, food, the environment, animal welfare, nutrition, health, war, peace, human diversity, all manner of social systems, parenting, governments, politics, education, science, religion and spirituality.
Groupthink
I have found one of the most powerful influences in life is social system regulation and stability. When one person disagrees with us we can shrug it off, but when several people disagree with us the effect is very powerful, our ability to reality-test is being compromised. For asking as little as an open question or sharing an alternative viewpoint, others may automatically experience our actions as offensive, and we can be ostracised to the out-group of our society.
In 1972 social psychologist Irving Janis coined “groupthink,” a term that describes this phenomenon. The Psychologists for Social Responsibility summarise groupthink thusly:
“…[Groupthink] occurs when a group makes faulty decisions because group pressures lead to a deterioration of ‘mental efficiency, reality testing, and moral judgment.’ (Janis, 1972, p.9) Groups affected by groupthink ignore alternatives and tend to take irrational actions that dehumanize other groups.
When pressures for unanimity seem overwhelming, members are less motivated to realistically appraise the alternative courses of action available to them. These group pressures lead to carelessness and irrational thinking since groups experiencing groupthink fail to consider all alternatives and seek to maintain unanimity. Decisions shaped by groupthink have low probability of achieving successful outcomes.”
8 Symptoms of Groupthink
(Janis, 1982, adapted from The Psychologists for Social Responsibility)
- Illusion of invulnerability – Creates excessive optimism that encourages taking extreme risks. Ignoring group and individual member vulnerabilities leads to incomplete and skewed risk assessments.
- Collective rationalization – Members discount warnings and do not reconsider their assumptions. Everything can be, and is explained away.
- Belief in inherent morality – Members believe in the rightness of their cause and therefore ignore the ethical or moral consequences of their decisions.
- Stereotyped views of out-groups – Negative views of “enemy” make effective responses to conflict seem unnecessary. Ad hominem attacks are a sign of this.
- Direct pressure on dissenters – Members are under pressure not to express arguments against any of the group’s views. Alternative viewpoints are automatically experienced as offensive and controversial.
- Self-censorship – Doubts and deviations from the perceived group consensus are not expressed.
- Illusion of unanimity – The majority view and judgments are assumed to be unanimous. Silence is taken as consensus.
- Self-appointed “mindguards” – Members protect the group and the leader from information that is problematic or contradictory to the group’s cohesiveness, view, and/or decisions. Organizations, astroturfers, and propogandists perform these roles.
Why Groupthink Has Gone Global
I believe numerous factors have contributed to the current dominance of groupthink. We live in increasingly competitive societies. Admitting to confusion or error exposes our vulnerability, and being vulnerable when we are surrounded by others seeking to one-up us in the hierarchy is often dangerous. We learn to fear our vulnerability and do whatever it takes to avoid it, including seeking the safety of the group by complying with their dominant viewpoints, thereby avoiding the accountability of making errors.
We have social systems (parenting, education, work, law) which teach us that obedience, conformity, and fear of authority are valued over advanced ethical and moral reasoning, over free, critical, and creative thought. We are increasingly a global collective pulled from such differing lives, perhaps coaxing us into premature aggreeableness on many issues, just to feel some sense of connection, belonging, and safety. Finally, all manner of organizations and individuals have found their interests can be well served by fostering and harnessing the mechanisms of groupthink.
Overcoming Groupthink
So how can free thinkers exist in an age of global groupthink? The biggest lesson I am learning is to not fall victim to groupthink ourselves. All viewpoints can create groupthink if information sources and groups are too insular. To be comfortable evaluating the full spread of information requires that we are in touch with our human capacity for vulnerability.
Vulnerability allows us to be accepting of the fact that trial and error and continuous revision and update are part of the process of authentic learning and quality decision-making. It’s knowing that we may be wrong and confused many times as we work it through, and that’s okay. Vulnerability allows us to harness the confusion conflicting information may cause in us to drive further learning, to go there, rather than being consumed by frustration, fear, and shame.
On communicating alternative viewpoints when I can feel I am being pressured into self-censorship by groupthink, I am finding it best not to use groupthink tactics myself. I try to present information as neutrally as possible, to source quality (groupthink-free) information, and to let arguments stand on their own merits rather than on manipulative, emotionally charged rhetoric. Overall, I try to be respectful of the vulnerability of other humans and their right to draw their own conclusions. In my own experience, fostering a sense of comfortability with vulnerability acts as a strong antidote to groupthink.
What are your thoughts about a concept like groupthink in the modern age? Are there other theories that explain this phenomenon well? Are there any methods that you have found useful to remain an active free-thinker and foster free-thought in your social group? I’d love to hear your views. Please comment below.
References
Janis, Irving L. (1972). Victims of Groupthink. New York: Houghton Mifflin.
Janis, Irving L. (1982). Groupthink: Psychological Studies of Policy Decisions and Fiascoes. Second Edition. New York: Houghton Mifflin.
I find it fascinating there are no comments on this article… Groupthink doesn’t allow some humans to comment without pressure of being ridiculed by other group thinkers… I think personally; IMO; not to overstep my social boundaries (see what I did there?) 😉 that this a great article that points out a very persistent problem we humans have on this planet and have for centuries. I like to dumb it down and call it the “sheep in the pasture” effect. Baaaaaaaaaaa. Bottom line is facts always get in the way of a good story. To BE is to BE a FREE thinker. It is a personal choice to question everything, but what happens when everyone becomes a free thinker??? Anarchy? It is indeed an interesting concept to ponder.
In my experience, being a ‘free thinker’ means at times bucking commonly held ‘truths’ and speaking honestly and taking total responsibility for ones own (perceived contrary by others) views; especially if it is in relationship to the ‘better good’ of oneself or society. To speak with integrity and diplomacy and articulating supporting facts and experiences in a way that’s open. Being unattached to the possibility of rejection, or expectation of others, on many levels. Staying connected to ones quest of the ultimate higher ‘truth’ (subject to change). To thine own self be true, at the same time doing regular personal/emotional/intellectual inventory. If it’s in the workplace, i highly recommend being self sufficient/employed. Find ‘your people’ who are open minded critical thinkers whom (like oneself) can agree to disagree when needed, this will hopefully restore faith in the human potential. Finally check out the Four Agreements, as this will assist many with remaining altruistic.
Edmund Cohen’s book “Mind of the Bible Believer” examines the emotional-needs-based drives behind some of these same ideas in the religion context. What drives groupthink and conformity has nothing to do with intelligence, academic achievement, facts or logic; it is entirely emotionally driven by latent unmet needs most people cannot even begin to articulate to themselves let alone examine critically.
Nailed it! Sounds like a great read, thanks for the heads up.
“In my experience Macrobiotics with all it’s intricate and fascinating possibilities is a Great Art…#theartofliving with a sense of freedom, a kind heart, vitality, generosity of spirit and respect for the constant interplay of the finite and infinite that is surrounding and within us all the time” WD
“#toyourgreatlife:
IT IS a salutation, A greeting, a kind wish, a hope, a heartfelt outreach or even a prayer for you and with you… That you may be inspired to BE one with your true nature; living moment to moment your great life potential.” WD
” we humans are problem solvers; we reach the door of wisdom by solving the right problem at the right time.” WD ’73 ” May everyone everywhere find all of their most important doors and go beyond without hesitation” WD ’73
I believe at another place and time it was called “mob rule”
I was a victim of groupthink just recently by being banned from my favorite facebook group for expressing an alternative opinion to the vast majority. First i was ridiculed and mocked relentlessly. One person, out of dozens, started backing up my ideas and she was virtually ignored. It was when i pointed out that i was not the one that was brainwashed that i was instantly banned. I appealed the ban and it went to council for review where they decided i was speaking nonsense so therefore flaming the thread which is against their rules. The ban stayed and my voice from a group with 1m people disappeared in an instant. It is extremely disappointing this mentality is so out of control throughout the world. Mostly i blame the main stream media and the owners that control the information that is fed to the masses.
The best way I have found to put a hairline crack into Groupthink is through poignant well-placed questions. Not through voicing my opposition, but through attempting to get others to think for themselves. This is difficult for many as they seem to be afraid that God is going to reach down and smack them if they have a thought of their own. And worse, other members of the group will see them getting smacked. Some never learn the excitement, opportunities, and satisfaction of a rocking boat. How big is your boat? How big is your ocean? How scary are your waves? Can you swim?
Imagination….. I’m a gene, a nation….. I am a magic notion…
I implode, I implore and I hope we can cope
As more wake from the fake and see the truth.
We must rouse from our slumbers, stop the rows in our numbers
Pull the wool they have placed, right in-front of our eyes
Use it to warm us and then warm and warn others of their lice/ice/lies.
This language we know, is ours to be known, older than our known hours.
Love the numbers and codes, unlock the wonders it shows.
Read between the lines,
Spiral around all the lines
Re-thread the lines
Then be freed between the lines.
Don’t be fooled by their words; The Devil’s in the details….
On here please, hear my pleas..
Think back, watch your back
Avoid a void and remember it all.
They teach us to forget with distractions and fierce.
We must learn to remember and find strength in our fears.
They chain us with daisychains and then beat us with beats.
They want to slow down our minds, selling tickets and seats…
Never again, never ever let them capture your imagination.
Its yours to use, not theirs to keep…
I think the best alternative to groupthink is to live your viewpoint. Contradiction through arguing your point will only lead to you joining the talking heads. If you know something different or better show evidence of what you know by acting on it. There are too many dissenters who talk a good game but fall far short of living up to their philosophies. Always leave space for those who choose to follow the crowd. Free thinking means everyone is free to think anything, even the so-called “sheeple”.
I’m loving the shares, thoughts and comments everyone. There’s even a poem, how cool is that?! Personally I’ve noticed subsuming the behaviours of the astroturfers, propogandists and their followers really puts it all into perspective and makes it easier to see through the emotional manipulations to the people behind them. People I am now starting to see as very scared of their own vulnerability. I hoped this article would impart a perspective I’ve found helpful at times to stay “sane in an insane world” as they say, and judging by the shares and feedback, it has been well received and appreciated, which makes me very glad to have shared it 🙂 Sending out good vibes to all you free-thinkers out there!