What is Groupthink Groupthink, a term coined by social psychologist Irving Janis 1972, occurs when a

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Instructors Guide Groupthink Chuck
Millstead Master Student University of
Michigan, Flint 4/4/07
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Background In the game Place Out Of Time (POOT)
students are given the opportunity to research
and portray a character. During the course of the
game, there are many lessons going on at one
time. These include reading, writing, history,
and acting. There are also many subtle lessons
that include giving the character a voice,
questing and investigation skills, and dealing
with their characters response to a given
situation. These reflect a few of the potential
subjects one might choose to expand on as an
instructor in the POOT program. One of the more
fascinating educational features of POOT is the
character response to a give situation. Often
times, the game controllers place misinformation
or lack of information to create obstacles the
student has traverse using investigative skills.
This can sometimes lead to separation between the
character and the student or students lack of
investigative skills can cause what is known as
groupthink. It is this social psychological
event that this lesson guide is intended to
examine.
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Groupthink One of the developers of the
groupthink theory was Irving Janis. He studied
several group decisions that failed or had less
than the anticipated results and developed a
theory of cohesion among the group members as a
reason poor decisions were made. His theory
develops an understanding as to why groups do not
always make the best of decisions and how to
recognize and reduce the chances of faulty
decisions.
Lesson Objective The objective of this lesson is
to teach the students the importance of
investigating and questioning information before
determining potential solutions. Each student
should develop an understanding of the cause of
groupthink and the potential solutions for
reducing groupthink.
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Initial Discussion Ask the students if they have
ever been involved in a group that made a
decision that did not work out as the group had
anticipated. Determine what the students felt
were the cause of the poor decision. This can be
compared to Janis findings and be developed into
further discussions. During the POOT game,
there will be opportunities to evaluate the
response of some characters when information is
presented. When elements of groupthink are
involved the instructor can develop follow up
questions that can be discussed when these
opportunities present themselves.
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Discussion Topics There are many real life
examples of groupthink described by Irving Janis
and others Pearl Harbor, Bay of Pigs, escalation
of the Vietnam War, failure of orings on the
space shuttle, and the war in Iraq. These topics
can be researched and questions developed as to
why they occurred and compared to Janis findings.
The forum for this study can be verbal
presentations, written assignments, role playing,
and open discussions.
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Informational Resources 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.   http//answers.yahoo.com
/question/index?qid20061013105556AAp6Lrl Questio
n by kids about groupthink. http//choo.fis.utoro
nto.ca/FIS/Courses/LIS2149/Groupthink.html Model
of the Groupthink theory.
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http//www.psysr.org/groupthink20overview.htm Se
veral books and articles on Groupthink. Books
  Hart, P.  (1994). Government A study of small
groups and policy failure. Baltimore The Johns
Hopkins University Press Kowert, P.A. (2002).
Groupthink or deadlock When do leaders learn
from their  advisors? Albany Blackwell
Publishing.  
Journal Articles   Ahlfinger, N. R. Esser, J.
K. (2001). Testing the groupthink model Effects
of promotional leadership and conformity
predisposition. Social Behavior            
Personality An International Journal, 29(1),
31-42.
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http//www.ntlf.com/html/pi/9710/v6n6smpl.pdf Art
icle from The National Teaching Learning Forum
November 1997
http//restorativepractice.org/blog/?p16 Cartoon
about groupthink
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• Activities
• Review the PowerPoint presentation in this
  instructional guide with the students and have
  them look for potential groupthink situations in
  the POOT game based on their experience.
• After POOT game is completed, have students
  review their experiences for potential groupthink
  situation. They should develop a cause and effect
  relationship and write a paper describing the
  potential cause and relate them to Janis theory.
• Draw a cartoon showing a groupthink situation
  between characters in the POOT simulation game.
• Act out a scene between characters in the POOT
  simulation game showing a groupthink situation
  and present alternative reactions.

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The following is the student presentation
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What is Groupthink? 
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What is Groupthink? Groupthink is a term, used
by Irving Janis, to describe a poor decision made
by a group of individuals.  Janis identifies and
describes the factors that contribute and foster
the decision process that allow groups to make
faulty decisions. 

• 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.
•  

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8Symptoms of  Groupthink?
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Illusion of invulnerability This is when a
group believes they can do no wrong and take risk
that normally would be reconsidered.
Collective rationalization The group fails to
evaluate the potential hazards and rejects
potential consequences of their actions.
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Morality right The group fails to recognize or
they reject the fact they might be violating an
accepted standard of behavior.

• Stereotyping The group reject the thoughts of
  others through negative comments and portraying
  outsiders as not worthy.

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Pressure to conform The group places all its
members at risk of being outcast if they fail to
follow the group.

• Self-censorship Individuals in the group fail
  to warn the group of danger because they feel
  this idea my be perceived as different from the
  groups thinking and they could become outcast.

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Illusion of unanimity The group believes all
those in the group agree because no one is taking
a different view.

• Self-appointed mindguards Some group members
  feel it is their job to prevent information from
  getting to the group that might disrupt the
  groups view.

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What Can I do?
What Can I do?
What Can I do?
What Can I do?
What Can I do?
What Can I do?
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Think for yourself be an
individual Who put on the pressure avoid
emotional blackmail Seek advice
check with a good resource Challenge ideas
make your choice count
Look for the signs avoid mindless thought
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You Decide