Approval

This year I had a group experience that I feel may have fallen into the category of groupthink. We were in this competition and it came to the point where some were considering the option of dropping out. We did end up giving up on our task, I feel partly because of this groupthink problem.

I would like to explore this issue and other aspects of group processes and social influences aspect are discussed in chapter 17.

Description ‑ In the winter of 1999,1 joined an O.M, team expecting only the highest of creativity from the group. What I fund was a bunch of busy people and a big waste of time: This group ended up quitting, and I feel that we may have experienced groupthink, or at least some of the symptoms of this group process.

O.M., or Odessy of the Mind, is a competition for elementary through high school students that involves what are called long and short term problems. Every year this competition is held throughout the country; this region's being held at St. Bonaventure. Students are given problems months ahead of the competition and are expected to create and perform eight minute skits using the special instructions for their problem. The short term problem, or spontaneous as it is commonly referred to, is presented to students on that day, only minutes before they are to solve that problem. The scores are tallied and the winners in each division and category go on to state competition.

I had been in this competition several times before, even a few times with others in this year's group. I knew of the high intelligence and creativity I was working with, not to mention the acting experience. I went in expecting to be blown away with their ideas, expecting to return to the state .competition. Within a few weeks into the problem we had the most amazing ideas. Then they seemed to be falling apart and we soon had left the dramatic realm to reenter the groups more favored area: comedy. I didn't see this as too large of a problem as I knew the group went well with comedy. I was, however, disappointed that the drama attempt did not fly, but I figured we still were going to do well and still had a chance at first place.

Again I was wrong. Before we knew it, it was the week of the competition and we still had no set. no costumes, and a slipshod script. Ideas of quitting, which had been mentioned previously before bean to grow more abundant and closer together. In common classes it was discussed. I meekly mentioned that I did not want to drop out a few times, but it was overlooked as the more vocal and self‑absorbed of the group grew stronger and stronger in their decision to quit.

Four days before the competition I came in late to a meeting to find that we in fact were no longer planning on attending the competition. Apparently the decision had been made. without my knowing. 1 slid see that. we would have a hard time getting everything done by that Saturday, but I knew that we could have pulled it off. I guess everyone thought that we were in consensus, or else they were just thinking of themselves. I felt sort of in the dark about the whole thing. I suppose I knew it was inevitable that they would decide to quit; I was just hoping that I was wrong. The coach of the group attributed our quitting to the above mentioned, and as I thought about it more it did seem that he was "the chair of the quitting committee." I suppose I could have opposed more, but it would not have done any good, besides I hadn't done anymore work that the rest of them. The entire thing ended with some bitter feelings, but no one held on to them long

Relationship‑ I feel that in this situation we may have placed less emphasis on wise decision making than on trying to achieve group consensus. and. harmony: groupthink. I can only discuss what I myself experienced and saw so my perspective may be slightly biased, but that perspective sees the symptoms of groupthink as outlined in the text. I will attack each of these and support them with examples:

I. The illusion of invulnerability, in which group members believe that everything will work out because this group is special and morally superior.

- I felt, from the beginning of this project, that we were going to do well in this competition and that this was the "best" O.M. group I had participated in. When we switched from drama to comedy I was let down, but felt we would still most likely win. Even the day that the group quit, I felt that if everyone put in the effort we could still do it.

2. The illusion of unanimity, in which people believe that group opinion is unanimous and unified.

- When I entered the room on the day that we quit, I felt like the coach and team were under the impression that everyone was for this. Also, as the group was discussing quitting they, especially the "chair", spoke mainly from their side of the issue, but as if we were all in agreement,

3. Direction pressure on dissenters, often suggesting that they are upsetting the group's harmony.

- This is not as strong of a symptom in this situation, however., when I did try to in my true feelings and suggest reason's why we should not quit, they were ignored, overlooked, or rebutted.

It is because of the above identified symptoms that I feel that we may have experienced groupthink. If only I had taken this course at the time I may have been able to recognize the warning signs and apply them here, although it is hard to tell if it would have made even a slight impact.