Posted on 03/04/2022 10:38:27 AM PST by JonPreston
Groupthink is a psychological phenomenon that occurs when a group forms a quick opinion that matches the group consensus, rather than critically evaluating the information. Mass hysteria can be seen as an extreme example of groupthink.
The term "groupthink" was coined in the early 1970s by psychologist Irving L. Janis.1 In 1972, Janis published his book Victims of Groupthink: A Psychological Study of Foreign-Policy Decisions and Fiascoes.
Janis defines "groupthink" as "a psychological drive for consensus at any cost that suppresses dissent and appraisal of alternatives in cohesive decision-making groups."
The group members feed off each other's emotional reactions, causing the panic to escalate. The Salem witch trials and the panic over the War of the Worlds radio broadcast can be viewed as examples of mass hysteria related to groupthink.
(Excerpt) Read more at verywellmind.com ...
‘Groupthink’ largely only can occur when there is instant feedback on one’s opinion OR when opinions of others are immediately available. It is a symptom of a VERY weak mind, frankly.
We went from the unvaxxed are killing people that should be immediately fired from their jobs, given dishonorable discharges from the military, forced shut into their houses, shunned by family, shunned by friends, denial of medical care, not allowed to visit dying parents/grandparents and not allowed to buy food or sit in a restaurant…
To…
My bad. No hard feelings!
Oh no....Fook you.
“When everyone is thinking the same, no one is thinking.”
Groupthink is common on Free Republic.
I’m not so sure about that. Quite the reverse, in some cases I think.
Lemming Effect, all one needs to know and understand.
You’re correct.
We are seeing a collective psychosis which is a mental disorder in which thought and reason are so impaired that contact is lost with reality.
GoreBull warming hysteria is a good example.
“Groupthink is common on Free Republic.”
I would agree.
The lead-up to the Russian invasion is a good example. Too many FReepers saw the NATO analysis of Russian military movements as some sort of partisan issue instead of looking at the information critically and assessing it against past Russian exercises.
To me the phenomenon was the mirror image of the “Orange Man Bad” psychosis in which anything Trump did or said was bad or a lie. Even it it wasn’t.
And that’s a shame because for me truth is not supposed to be a partisan issue for conservatives. We’re supposed to be objective and leave the emotional histrionics to the Kool-Aid colored hair wokesters.
“Extraordinary Popular Delusions and The Madness Of Crowds” has been in print for almost 200 years now.
That was a great book! And nothing has changed since it was written.
Bkmk
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