How Group Thinking and Group Shifting affect Group discussion??

Group thinking

A phenomenon developed in groups and marked by the consensus of opinion without critical
reasoning or evaluation of consequences or alternatives. Groupthink revolves around a common
desire to not upset the balance of a group of people by creating conflict, with creativity and
individuality considered potentially harmful traits that should be avoided.

The concept of groupthink provides a summary explanation of reasons group sometimes

make poor decisions. Indeed, groups are supposed to be better than individuals at making
complex decisions, because, through the membership, a variety of differing perspectives are
brought to bear. Group members not only serve to bring new ideas into the discussion but also act
as error-correcting mechanisms. Groups also provide social support, which is especially critical for
new ideas. But when new perspectives are rejected it is hard to correct errors.

Causes of groupthink

 Structural faults in the organization: insulation of the group, lack of tradition of impartial
leadership, lack of norms requiring methodological procedures, homogeneity of members'
social background and ideology.
 Provocative situational context: high stress from external threats, recent failures, excessive
difficulties on the decision-making task, moral dilemmas.

Social psychologist Clark McCauley's three conditions under which groupthink occurs:

 Directive leadership.
 Homogeneity of members' social background and ideology.
 Isolation of the group from outside sources of information and analysis.
Group Shift

The first term for group shift was Risky Shift that was first coined in the early 1960’s and was used
to describe the tendency for groups to take more risks than the same individuals within these
groups would have taken had they been faced with the same problem alone.

Causes of group shift

There are varying explanations that attempt to provide a reason as to why group shift occurs.

 Group diffuses responsibility: a diffusion of responsibility throughout the group seems to

give members of these groups a free rein to act as they see fit.
 The emotional bonds that are created within the group serve to decrease anxiety within the
group and the actual risk of the situation seems less.
 The social status in groups is often associated with risk-taking, leading people to avoid a
low risk position.
 The high risk-takers are more confident and hence may persuade others to take greater
risks.
 As people pay attention to a possible action, they become more familiar and comfortable
with it and hence perceive less risk

Example from the group which were formed for group discussion

When we had a group discussion in our last class, our group had 8 members and 5 of them
were dominating our group. We all had different answers so that we were confused about the
correct answer so other members of the group thought that the answers which other members
were telling was right and at last when answers were called out we realised that the individual
answers were correct. While the answers we got while our group discussion had a greater
difference from the correct one. Our group thinking was very poor. The members who were
telling the suggestions in the group were like risk takers. I was also contributing my opinion
towards the answers but was not able to convince other members so I also got confused and
thought maybe my answer will also be wrong.
 ASSIGNMENT

ON

ORGANISATIONAL BEHAVIOR

SUBMITTED TO: DR RAJIV K MASSEY

SUBMITTED BY: VINEETHA P
SUBMITTED ON: 19TH NOV 2010
COURSE: MBA (BRU)