Tutorial 5 - Article 2 - Groupthink and terrorist radicalization

Question 1

What is terrorism?

Answer 1

Politically motivated violence perpetrated against noncombatant targets by non-state actors

Question 2

What is radicalization?

Answer 2

a long-lasting process during which organizational resources are created for groups more prone to adopt violent repertoires and fundamentalist ideologies

Question 3

What are two distinctions within radicalization?

Answer 3

1) Individual radicalization vs. group radicalization
2) rational and irrational radicalization

Question 4

What distinguishes rational and irrational radicalization?

Answer 4

For rational radicalization, the group is convinced that terrorist activities are the best method to reach their goals. Irrational radicalization is when there is evidence this is not the case but groups still radicalize

Question 5

What are the three stages of the groupthink mechanism?

Answer 5

1) Antecedent conditions
2) Groupthink symptoms
3) Defective decision-making

Question 6

What are the antecedent conditions for the groupthink mechamism?

Answer 6

1) External threat
2) Group insulation
3) Group homogeneity
4) Partial leadership
5) Lack of decision-making procedures

Question 7

What is an external threat as an antecedent to groupthink?

Answer 7

When a group operates in a threatening environment (example: a society with political violence, war, oppression, etc.)

Question 8

What is group insulation as an antecedent to groupthink?

Answer 8

A group being insulated from outside influence minimizes exposure to different perspectives and ideas (example: insolation-by-choice by a radical leftist faction)

Question 9

What is group homogeneity as an antecedent to groupthink?

Answer 9

Group members coming from a similar social background and similar ideologies (example: far-left ideas against the US state)

Question 10

What is partial leadership as an antecedent to groupthink?

Answer 10

Leadership that magnifies personalities through over-the-top rhetoric, spurring emotional loyalty and discouraging dissent (example: commanding leadership styles, no interruptions, rhetorical speeches, etc.)

Question 11

What is lack of decision-making procedures as an antecedent to groupthink?

Answer 11

Enabling the decision-making process to be dominated by strong personalities rather than sound ideas (example: no democratic voting, leadership decides everything, no dissent)

Question 12

What are the symptoms of groupthink?

Answer 12

1) Stereotype adversary
2) Inherent morality
3) Illusory invulnerability
4) Illusory unanimity
5) Collective rationalizations
6) Censorship

Question 13

What is stereotype adversary as a symptom of groupthink?

Answer 13

Accepting extreme stereotypes, dehumanizing and demonizing the adversary, and disregarding information casting doubt on biases (example: anti-US views, even against regular citizens, they were all guilty of war, etc.)

Question 14

What is inherent morality as a symptom of groupthink?

Answer 14

Believing that the group always has the moral highground, and that they are in the right. All the others are wrong, all contrary information is dismissed or disregarded (example: all americans are guilty of vietnam war, violence against citiznes is justified)

Question 15

What is illusory of invulnerability as a symptom of groupthink?

Answer 15

Excessive optimism about the effectiveness of chosen actions and policies and discounted risks of actions (example: optimism about the day of rage actions effectiveness and revolution)

Question 16

What is illusory of unanimity as a symptom of groupthink?

Answer 16

Disregard of group members with alternative suggestions and censorship. Absolute loyalty is required, group identity replaces individual identity (example: the way I ate, dressed, talked, everything was weatherman, no criticism allowed, verbal abuse)

Question 17

What is collective rationalizations as a symptom of groupthink?

Answer 17

Groups reconciling their morality and rightfulness with conflicting external information (example: criticsm after the failed days of rage made them double down instead of change strategy)

Question 18

What is censorship as a symptom of groupthink?

Answer 18

Self-imposed and mutually enforced opposition to dissent, silencing of different opinions (example: no criticsm allowed on direction and failures)

Question 19

What are the defective decision-making results of groupthink?

Answer 19

1) Incomplete survey of objectives
2) Discounting alternatives
3) Selective information bias
4) Failure to examine risks

Question 20

What is incomplete survey of objectives as a resulting defective decision-making process of groupthink?

Answer 20

Objectives and effective policies to reach such objectives are not gauged adequately, and the chosen actions are not effective

Question 21

What is discounting alternatives as a resulting defective decision-making process of groupthink?

Answer 21

Alternative policy options and actions are discounted due to prevailing focus on chosen methods

Question 22

What is selective information bias as a resulting defective decision-making process of groupthink?

Answer 22

Ignoring the full range of relevant information and relying only on selective inputs

Question 23

What is failure to examine risks as a resulting defective decision-making process of groupthink?

Answer 23

Failure to adequately examine risks of chosen actions/policies/directions