Groupthink

Sometimes, an individual may suppress or censor their true opinions from the “popular” crowd to fit in and to avoid discomfort, resentment, or feeling like an outcast.

This situation is called groupthink—a mode of thinking where the desire for conformity and unanimity in a cohesive group overrides alternative and realistic decisions or actions.

In the presence of an esteemed leader, the members discover their shared interests and similar backgrounds and appear as a homogenous unit.

As a result, the now loyal person may experience an illusion of invulnerability—they feel protected from any outside opinions that may vary—and, they won’t be mocked from the inside.

Over time, the fear of being ostracized may even cause stress that rationalizes a few to act with misguided notions, such as deciding that they’re the best and stereotyping those outside the group as losers.

Such beliefs can even spread over popular media, where others “like” the message and discourage any dissent.

With a growing number of unquestioned viewpoints, groupthink can be detrimental to everyone’s well-being and critical thinking and, thus, should be avoided.

In this case, to reduce the likelihood of groupthink, the “ring leader” should diminish her presence to avoid swaying others’ opinions. In addition, the members could consult or question a trusted outsider to obtain unbiased and alternative views, keeping broader perspectives alive!