Social scientists have noticed an interesting trend in the last few decades. Groupthink is blamed when something goes wrong, whether it’s a military failure, technological disaster or even an advertising campaign in poor taste.
Some social scientists say groupthink is also used to explain everyday healthcare and corporate management failures.
If groupthink is so bad, why do humans do it so much?
Groupthink occurs when people go along with a group’s irrational ideas. The motivation to do so is typically caused by a desire to conform and keep harmony within the group. Researchers find there are benefits to thinking cohesively as a group. More so, we’re designed to do it because it was an evolutionary advantage for early humans.
Social scientists have argued that groupthink was an evolutionary strategy that helped early humans remain within the good graces of the tribes they relied on for food and protection. As one ...
