You are absolutely right. Unless you train yourself not to react by groupthink, you will. I used to work in the Navy operating nuclear reactors. This is an environment where there is a strong sense of authority (chain of command), the views of your peers are highly respected (nuclear trained personnel), and the responsibility for the safety of a nuclear reactor is shared across the entire department. Not surprisingly, the Navy is aware of these characteristics and trains personnel very strongly on personal responsibility, how to refuse unlawful orders, and how to ask questions (and are trained that the only time that you shouldn't question an order is in a tactical situation). If the Navy didn't do this the probability of a nuclear accident would skyrocket. I have been in several situations where I've had to correct superiors and subordinates on problems. Without proper training it is very difficult to be in a room telling senior officers that they are wrong while your peers remain quiet.
There are several psychological experiments that show that diffusion of authority exists with the most famous one being the Milgram experiment. I find it easier to react in a diffusion of responsibility situation when I realize that other people in a group are reacting exactly the way I would expect them to react. I also look out for people to don't react normally because they are the type of people you could trust with your life.
1) Thank you for your service!
2) I am (until recently crippled) a Pharm Chemist that has worked on Nuc Pharm Med and Nuc Chem. I know EXACTLY what you speak of...It fell regularly to me to be the one to say "No" to the clueless "Dilbert-esque" Boss, because I was the ONLY one who had the guts and character to do it...everyone else was a "yes" man! Not exactly an encouraging characteristic when you are working with 100+ curies of P-32, Co 60, Sr 85, Na 22, ect...when I was working the waldoes, I had to keep one eye on the cell, and one on the untrustworthy weasels!
3) I guess I never subscribed to "group-think"...I've always been my own person and went my own way, and never cared what the rest thought!
4) I agree completely with your "I also look out for people to don't react normally because they are the type of people you could trust with your life." comment 100%! It's now instinctive to me to do that in every situation I find myself in.