Group Think
Group think occurs when people who are part of a very close group begin to think alike, instead of coming to an agreement after all of the members looked closely at all solutions to a problem. In other words, the members of the group change their minds and agree with the dominant member of the discussion. Whenever this occurs in a group, it is said that the members who automatically agree with the dominant member are not carrying out their jobs as a member of the group. Everybody in the group should state how they feel the problem should be solved, and should examine all of the possibilities to solving the problem (DeFleur, Kearney, Plax, & DeFleur, 2005). Also, group think occurs only when cohesiveness is high, and the members have the desire to save relationships in the group, whatever the cost may be (afirstlook.com/book).
Irving Janis is the social psychologist who described this theory.
Click here to view an example of how member's of a group will agree with the dominant member of the group, and not speak up if they disagree with them.
Click here for a student made video demonstrating how situations would turn out with and without groupthink.
