Groupthink is best described as?

• A. Groupthink
• B. Escalation of commitment
• C. Group polarization
• D. Unethical decision making

Answer: (A)

Groupthink is a pattern where the group’s desire for harmony and conformity leads to faulty decisions because members suppress dissent and don’t critically evaluate alternatives. The group may feel an illusion of unanimity and create informal protections (mindguards) that shield the decision from opposing viewpoints. As a result, options aren’t thoroughly explored and risks aren’t adequately weighed, producing poorer outcomes. This focus on consensus and cohesion distinguishes it from escalation of commitment (continuing a failing course due to sunk costs), group polarization (discussion pushing the group toward more extreme positions), and the broader category of unethical decision making (a moral issue rather than the described social-psychological process). For example, a team might approve a risky plan to maintain group harmony, ignoring warning signs and dissenters.