A classic example of groupthink is the "Road to Abilene" paradox, which illustrates how group consensus can lead to poor decisions despite individual members having private reservations.
In this story, a family on a hot afternoon in Texas decides to take a long, uncomfortable drive to Abilene for dinner. Each member agrees to the trip, not because they genuinely want to go, but because they mistakenly believe the others want to go and do not want to express dissent or disrupt group harmony.
The trip turns out to be unpleasant, and only afterwards do they reveal that none of them wanted to go; they all went along to satisfy the others' perceived preferences. This illustrates how groupthink causes individuals to suppress their doubts and conform to what they perceive as the group consensus, leading to suboptimal outcomes.
Groupthink, as defined by social psychologist Irving Janis, occurs when members of a cohesive group prioritise consensus and cohesion over critical evaluation of alternatives, often resulting in irrational or flawed decisions. Key characteristics include illusions of unanimity, self-censorship, direct pressure on dissenters, and rationalization of warnings, all of which contribute to poor decision-making.
The "Road to Abilene" story exemplifies these dynamics, illustrating how the desire to avoid conflict and maintain group cohesion can override individuals' valid preferences, ultimately leading to collective mistakes.
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