Group think

Question 1

What is group decision making characterised by?

Answer 1

Excessive tendency amongst group members to seek concurrence that they lose the ability to impartially evaluate alternative points of view.

Question 2

What was Stoner’s 1961 experiment?

Answer 2

When asked if an engineer should move to a higher paying less stable job the group made the riskier decision of yes whereas individuals said no. But when asked if someone should put all of their sons college money into risky stocks the group said no.

Question 3

What did Stoner conclude?

Answer 3

The group polarisation effect: The idea that a group will decide on a riskier outcome the majority of the time, however context is vital and heavily considered.

Question 4

What is the risky shift?

Answer 4

The idea that a group is more likely to make an extreme decision than an individual.

Question 5

What is groupthink?

Answer 5

A fixed way of decisions making and thinking that can be dangerous due to the groups tendency of pushing the decisions to the extreme solution. E.g. presidents and weapons of mass destruction.

Question 6

What did Janis suggest about groupthink in 1972?

Answer 6

That it has a higher effect when the decision is cohesive, isolated, can effect direct leadership and the situation is high stakes or stress.

Question 7

Why may people conform to groupthink?

Answer 7

To avoid disagreements.