Groupthink is a psychological
phenomenon that occurs within a
group of people, in which the desire for harmony or conformity in the group results in an irrational or dysfunctional
decision-making outcome. Group members try to minimize conflict and reach a consensus decision without
critical evaluation of alternative viewpoints, by actively suppressing dissenting viewpoints, and by isolating themselves from outside influences.
Loyalty to the group requires individuals to avoid raising
controversial issues or alternative solutions, and there is
loss of individual creativity, uniqueness and independent thinking. The dysfunctional
group dynamics of the "ingroup" produces an "illusion of invulnerability" (an inflated certainty that the right decision has been made). Thus the "ingroup" significantly overrates its own abilities in decision-making, and significantly underrates the abilities of its opponents (the "outgroup"). Furthermore, groupthink can produce dehumanizing actions against the "outgroup".
