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Groupthink is a psychological phenomenon observed among people fully identify themselves with a particular social group within which the conformity of social harmony , or the desire to cause abnormal or deviant decision making. In such a situation, one mind becomes more valuable than following the logic and rational thinking. The level of conformity while significantly increasing essential to the activities of the group information is subject to biased interpretation, cultivated unwarranted optimism and belief in the unlimited possibilities of the group. Information that is not consistent with the accepted line, members of the group are ignored or greatly distorted. In the end, the impression of a unanimous decision is present. Groupthink often has far- reaching social and political consequences, numerous examples of which have a history.
The phenomenon of groupthink was opened by Irving Janis. In research groups that made political and military solutions . Janice found that over time, the composition of the group with the immutable began to take so unprofessional solutions that even a layman would prevent such errors. Among the most striking examples of Janice led taken in the early 30 -ies of XX century by the UK decision usefulness to the country's rise to power in Germany, Hitler's recommendations close to U.S. President Truman experts about the need to start a military conflict in Korea, the decision of U.S. President Johnson the start of military operations in Vietnam , adopted a similar way as a result of collective discussion with experts , the decision of U.S. President John F. Kennedy to intervene in the Bay of Pigs . In 1975, 3 years after the publication of the works of Irving Janis, the article about the term was included in Webster's Collegiate Dictionary with a value similar to that of doublethink: «conformity group values and ethics.»
The phenomenon of group think is peculiar groups as non-destructive and destructive cults. However, in destructive cults accepted most violent and irrational solutions: for example, the poisoning of people in the Tokyo subway system by members of the " Aum Shinrikyo ", calling for the death and the announcement of "doomsday" "White Brotherhood ". In non-destructive consequences of groupthink groups can be under certain circumstances subsequently minimized, which is not the destructive cults.
