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WotD: Groupthink
Groupthink is a phenomenon that occurs when a group of people share the same opinion without critical evaluation.
This can happen for many reasons, but it usually occurs because the group has strong bonds and is not easily affected by external forces.
The presence of a domineering leader who does not allow dissent or disagreement within the ranks is also a major contributing factor.
Groupthink is a phenomenon that occurs when a group of people share the same opinion without critical evaluation.
Those who eventually become victims of the groupthink mentality were rarely able to predict the disastrous result of their misguided decisions.
This is because tight-knit groups with little outside input have an overly confident mindset and belief in their morals.
They also wrongly believe they are highly versatile.
There is an extreme desire for group consensus within a groupthink environment, overriding common sense.
The need for someone to present alternatives, critique a position, or express an unpopular opinion is considered unnecessary.
This absence of outside influence creates an echo chamber of self-reassurance; if everyone agrees with a decision, it must be the correct one.
In reality, however, groupthink often leads to disastrous decisions and results evident to everyone outside the group.
At the same time, those inside it were oblivious to the consequences of their actions.
The dangers of groupthink are why capable leaders consciously create an open and accepting environment where dissent and disagreement are welcome and even expected.
By surrounding themselves with advisors who speak their minds, leaders can prevent the phenomenon of the groupthink mentality from taking root.
Echo chambers are not created, and the group is versatile and progressive in its thinking.
Flesch-Kincaid Readability Test
This post is understandable by someone with at least a 10th-grade education (age 16).
On the Flesch-Kincaid reading-ease test, this post scores 46.
The easier a passage is to read, the higher the score on a scale of 0 – 100.