Mind & Psychology•June 30, 2025•1 min read

Groupthink: The Danger of Harmony

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Irving JanisContributor

The Bay of Pigs

President Kennedy and his advisors were smart men. Yet they planned the disastrous Bay of Pigs invasion. Why? Because no one wanted to be the one to say “This is a bad idea.” They valued consensus over critical thinking.

Symptoms

Groupthink happens when:

  1. Illusion of Invulnerability: “We can’t fail.”
  2. Self-Censorship: “I won’t speak up because everyone else agrees.”
  3. Direct Pressure: “Don’t ruin the vibe.”

The Devil’s Advocate

To fight groupthink, you must appoint a Devil’s Advocate. Someone whose job is to disagree. Without conflict, there is no truth.

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Irving Janis

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