What is Groupthink? (Explained in 3 Minutes)?

Groupthink is when everyone in a group agrees too quickly and doesn't think for themselves, like when all your friends pick the same toy at the store, even if it's not the best one.

What Groupthink Looks Like

Imagine you're playing a game with your class. The teacher asks, "What should we do next?" Everyone says the same thing without thinking, maybe they all say, "Jump!" just because the first person said it. No one stops to think if jumping is actually a good idea.

This happens in real life too. Sometimes people on a team or in a company all agree on something just because they don't want to argue, even if it's not the best choice.

Why Groupthink Happens

Sometimes, kids (or adults) feel nervous about speaking up. They think, What if I say something silly? So they go along with what everyone else is doing, even if they know it might not be right.

But groupthink doesn't have to win! If one person says, "Wait, maybe we should try this instead," others might start thinking too, and that's when good ideas come alive.

Take the quiz →

Examples

  1. A class votes to pick the same boring project instead of trying something fun.
  2. Everyone in a meeting agrees with the boss's idea without questioning it.
  3. A group of friends all choose the same restaurant even though they know others prefer different places.

Ask a question

See also

Discussion

Recent activity