Mini-Test: Are You a Victim of Groupthink?

I trust our leader completely; they know what’s best for all of us
This statement reflects blind trust in authority, which is a hallmark of groupthink. When individuals place complete faith in a leader without questioning their decisions or judgment, they relinquish their own critical thinking. This can lead to poor decision-making as the leader’s perspective may not always be accurate or well-informed. In groupthink scenarios, such trust often discourages dissent and fosters an environment where alternative ideas are not explored.
If everyone else in the group agrees, it must be the right decision
This statement highlights the illusion of unanimity, one of the key symptoms of groupthink. When individuals assume that consensus equates to correctness, they ignore the possibility that the majority could be wrong or that important perspectives have been overlooked. This mindset suppresses independent thought and reinforces conformity, even when there are valid reasons to question the group’s decision.
Challenging the group’s decision would only cause unnecessary conflict
This reflects fear of disrupting harmony within the group, another common feature of groupthink. Individuals who avoid raising objections out of concern for causing conflict prioritize maintaining cohesion over making sound decisions. This attitude stifles debate and prevents critical evaluation of ideas, leading to suboptimal outcomes.
Anyone who disagrees with us just doesn’t understand what’s really going on
This statement demonstrates stereotyping outsiders or dissenters as uninformed or incapable of understanding the group’s perspective. Such stereotyping is a symptom of groupthink that creates an “us vs. them” mentality, discouraging constructive criticism from within or outside the group and reinforcing flawed decisions.
It’s important that we all stick together rather than question each other’s ideas
This reflects excessive emphasis on unity at the expense of critical thinking and open dialogue. While cohesion can be beneficial in groups, prioritizing it above questioning ideas leads to suppression of diverse viewpoints and reduces the likelihood of identifying better alternatives or avoiding mistakes.
We shouldn’t waste time debating when we already have a clear direction forward
This statement illustrates rationalization—a symptom where groups dismiss alternative perspectives as unnecessary or irrelevant because they believe their chosen path is already correct. By discouraging debate under the guise of efficiency, this attitude prevents thorough analysis and increases susceptibility to errors.