Tag: group think

Critical thinking, questioning and robust debate are an essential element of innovation, positive change and progress in a society. Being immune to the unfounded opinions of others is essential to engaging in positive social change as opposed to “lemmings” who blindly follow their leaders into oblivion as all the “great” empires have done from Rome to the current collapse we are witnessing with the current collapse and disintegration of the US financial/military/industrial/oligarchic plutocracy. However this phenomenon not just confined to the US and all bureaucratic institutions from government to business, from political factions to the multiple tribal groupings of humanity.

The phenomenon of “yes-men” and “groupthink” even happens amongst so called alternative and progressive “tribal” groups to result in the “self censoring” as discussed below. However lets begin with a fable:

Oh, the yes-men donkeys, they slaved all day, 

Pulling carts and wagons, in the farmer’s way. 

The farmer was stern, and he loved his stick, 

He used it to beat them, when they weren’t quick.

But one day, a new donkey came along, 

He was bright, cheerful and sang a new song. 

He said, “Dear donkeys, there’s a better way, 

To work hard and fast, all through the day.”

“Instead of the stick, let’s use a carrot, 

A reward for hard work, it’s a better start.” 

The other donkeys just laughed and jeered,

 “We don’t need carrots, that stick isn’t feared.”

They were so caught up in their groupthink, 

They couldn’t see the carrot, nor even wink. 

The new donkey was sad, but didn’t give up,

 He knew that someday, they’d fill his cup.

One day, the farmer decided for the best, 

To try the new donkey theory, put it to the test. 

So put him in a field with a carrot, no stick, 

Watched that donkey working quite very quick.

The new donkey worked hard for the carrot, 

And munched away, like a hungry parrot. 

The farmer was amazed, he’d never seen, 

A donkey working this hard, it seemed like a dream.

The farmer decided to try out the carrot, 

With the other donkeys and put it on a hook. 

But the other donkeys still preferred the whip stick, 

Caught up in their groupthink and mentally sick. 

The farmer was disappointed, but he learned a lot, 

He learned about groupthink’s mindset rot. 

Leading yes-men donkeys to make bad decisions, 

Missing opportunities for change with absolute precision.

It’s important to be open to new donkey’s ideas,

Stand up, challenge the status quo, without fears. 

And the best way to get people to work hard, 

Is to reward them, not punish them right from the start. 

Yes-men are people who are known for always agreeing with the people in power, even when they have their own doubts or concerns. Yes-men are often seen as being sycophants or flatterers, and they can be very dangerous, especially when they are in positions of power themselves.

Groupthink is a psychological phenomenon that occurs when a group of people makes bad decisions because they are all trying to conform to the group’s consensus. Groupthink can be caused by a number of factors, including:

• Illusion of invulnerability: The group believes that it is infallible and that its decisions are always correct.
• Collective effort to suppress dissent: The group exerts pressure on its members to agree with the consensus, even if they have different opinions.
• Self-censorship: Group members are afraid to express their dissenting views because they fear being ostracised or punished by the group.

Yes-men can play a major role in groupthink. Because they are always agreeing with the people in power, they can create an environment where dissenting views are silenced and bad decisions are made.

Here are some examples of how yes-men and groupthink can lead to bad decision making:

• A corporate board of directors may make a bad decision about a merger or acquisition because the CEO has surrounded himself with yes-men who are afraid to challenge his ideas.
• A government administration may make a bad decision about going to war because the president has surrounded himself with advisors who are afraid to tell him that he is wrong.
• A sports team may make a bad decision about a trade or draft pick because the general manager has surrounded himself with scouts and coaches who are afraid to tell him that he is making a mistake.

It is important to be aware of the dangers of yes-men and groupthink. If you are in a situation where you feel pressured to conform to the group’s consensus, it is important to speak up and express your own opinion, even if it is different from the majority opinion.

Here are some tips for avoiding groupthink:

• Encourage dissenting opinions.
• Be open to new ideas and perspectives.
• Take time to reflect on decisions before making them.
• Avoid making decisions under pressure.
• Seek input from outside the group.

By following these tips, you can help to ensure that your group makes better decisions.