Make Your Point > Archived Issues > GROUPTHINK

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explore the archives: Coined in 1952 by the analyst William H. Whyte, and then defined more sharply in 1971 by the psychologist Irving Janis, groupthink is a word purposefully created to give you that same creepy feeling as doublethink and Newspeak, terms from George Orwell's novel 1984. Doublethink is, of course, believing in two opposite things at the same time. Could you explain exactly what Newspeak is, and give an example or two? make your point with... "GROUPTHINK" Like it sounds, groupthink is the bad, illogical thinking (or bad, illogical decision-making) that people do in groups. I'm oversimplifying here, but the basic idea is that in a group, when we're making a decision together, we focus too much on getting everybody to agree. We fail to speak up when we disagree with the group, and we fail to focus on different options or potential problems. In the worst cases, groupthink leads to horrible, destructive decisions that could have been prevented if somebody had just spoken up in disagreement. Pronunciation: GROOP think Part of speech: Uncountable noun. (Like "milk," "rice," and "education," uncountable nouns are words for stuff that can’t be broken into exact units. You talk about "some milk," "the rice," and "a lot of education," but you don’t say "a milk," "three rices," or "many educations." Likewise, talk about "the groupthink," "this groupthink," "their groupthink," "such groupthink," "no groupthink," and so on, but don’t say "a groupthink," "one groupthink," or "groupthinks.") Other forms: none How to use it: This word always has a critical, creepy tone. Groupthink is always a bad thing. Talk about the dangers of groupthink, an atmosphere of groupthink, the rampant groupthink in a certain field, an association infested with groupthink, or an assembly gripped by groupthink. We might buy into the groupthink, engage in groupthink, promote or encourage groupthink, realize that groupthink is at work or in play, or point out how a choice or process is subject to groupthink or susceptible to groupthink. And, we try to get away from groupthink, prevent groupthink, fight against groupthink, overcome groupthink, put a check on groupthink, find a shield or protection against groupthink, find an antidote to groupthink, or find something to counteract groupthink. Then, we can talk about a choice or process that's free from groupthink. But often we say that groupthink was to blame, that groupthink was a factor in some bad outcome, that a bad choice or bad product resulted from groupthink, or that people were victims of groupthink. examples: In an effort to ward off groupthink, the committee chairman asked the members to weigh their thoughts and email him privately with any concerns or alternate ideas. We can't blame the recent rollback of students' civil rights entirely on groupthink: the Secretary of Education voiced her dissent, then was silenced. study it now: Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "groupthink" means when you can explain it without saying "a rush to agree" or "a disregard for individual thought." try it out: Fill in the blank: "Surely the decision to _____ was a product of groupthink." Example: "Surely Bath and Body Works's decision to discontinue their most popular scents was a product of groupthink." before you review: Spend at least 20 seconds occupying your mind with the game below. Then try the review questions. Don’t go straight to the review now—let your working memory empty out first. This month, we're playing with lines of poetry that include words we've checked out together in previous issues. I’ll give you a few lines from the poem, with a blank where our word appears, along with its definition. See if you can come up with it. Each answer will appear in the next day's issue. Enjoy! From yesterday: From Langston Hughes's poem "Harlem:"    "What happens to a dream deferred?       Does it dry up       like a raisin in the sun?       Or ______ like a sore—       And then run?" Definition: to get worse and worse instead of healing. Answer: fester. Try this today: From Edgar Allan Poe's poem "Dream-Land:"    "For the heart whose woes are legion       ’T is a peaceful, soothing region—       For the spirit that walks in shadow       ’T is—oh, ’t is an __ ______!" Definition: any real or fake place full of riches. (Two words.) review today's word: 1. The opposite of GROUPTHINK could be A. CONFORMITY B. CRITICAL THINKING C. UNIFIED RESISTANCE 2. Close-knit and like-minded, the board has often been _____ groupthink. A. honored by B. devoted to C. plagued by Answers are below. a final word: To be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact Liesl at Liesl@HiloTutor.com Disclaimer: Word meanings presented here are expressed in plain language and are limited to common, useful applications only. Readers interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words are encouraged to check a dictionary. Likewise, word meanings, usage, and pronunciations are limited to American English; these elements may vary across world Englishes. Answers to review questions: 1. B 2. C