Definition of groupthink
:a pattern of thought characterized by self-deception, forced manufacture of consent, and conformity to group values and ethics
What's Trending Now
More Trending Words
Read the Latest from M-W
Recent Examples of groupthink from the Web
-
In a lengthy internal document which became public last Saturday, James Damore argued in part that women may be inherently inferior to men at writing software, and that discussion of the issue within Google was stifled by progressive groupthink.
-
And groupthink is prominently on display in Seattle.
-
Researchers think greater diversity diminishes the tendency toward groupthink and helps firms avoid costly investment mistakes.
-
And classic groupthink, Sapphire's take joins a whole crowd of people dying their hair similar pink hues.
-
Blame groupthink, which can be tougher to escape in Chicago sports than rush-hour traffic.
-
Dangerous groupthinkThe research, published in the Journal of Financial Economics, examined 3,510 individual venture capitalists who invested in 12,577 companies from 1973 to 2003.
-
The festivals, the groupthink, the blunt-force sounds — these were the hallmarks of a scene designed for ecstatic release, but also one that was easily parodied.
-
And study after study has shown that greater diversity leads to better outcomes, more innovative solutions, less groupthink, better stock performance and G.D.P. growth.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'groupthink.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of groupthink
Financial Definition of GROUPTHINK
groupthink
What It Is
Groupthink is a psychological phenomenon whereby pressure within a group to agree results in failures to think critically about an issue, situation or decision.
How It Works
Let's say John, Jane, and Jeff are fund managers for the XYZ mutual fund company. They meet weekly to discuss their investing strategies and their top picks. The three get along well and trust each other's judgment.
One day, Jeff proposes buying shares of ABC Company for his fund. He plans to make a large buy and says he likes the company's fundamentals. John and Jane go along with the plan and buy the stock for their funds, too. Two weeks later, the stock has fallen by 50%.
John, Jane, and Jeff are the victims of groupthink. They didn't independently analyze the stock and relied on everyone else in the group to point out flaws in Jeff's thinking.
Psychologist Irving Janis coined the term in 1972. Janis cited eight signals of groupthink:
1. Excessive optimism
2. Discounting warnings
3. A belief that the other person's motives are ethical
4. A belief that people outside the group are troublemakers or create conflict
5. Pressure not to disagree with other members of the group
6. Failure to express doubts or differing opinions
7. Assumption that what most of the group believes is what all of the group believes
8. Members who "protect" the leader from conflicting information or dissenters
Why It Matters
In the investing world, groupthink is akin to a "herd mentality." Knowing how to recognize groupthink provides a tremendous opportunity for contrarians to recognize when investors are buying or selling without thinking. This allows contrarians to question trends and even go in the opposite direction.
Source: Investing Answers
Learn More about groupthink
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up groupthink? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!