Symptoms
Illusions of invulnerability creating excessive optimism and encouraging risk taking.
Rationalising warnings that might challenge the group's assumptions.
Unquestioned belief in the morality of the group,causing members to ignore the consequences of their actions.
Stereotyping those who are opposed to the group as weak,evil,disfigured,impotent,or stupid.
Direct pressure to conform placed on any member who questions the group,couched in terms of 'disloyalty'.
Self censorship of ideas that deviate from the apparent group consensus.
Illusions of unanimity among group members,silence is viewed as agreement.
Mindguards — self-appointed members who shield the group from dissenting information.
Prevention
Leaders should assign each member the role of 'critical evaluator'. This allows each member to freely air objections and doubts.
Higher-ups should not express an opinion when assigning a task to a group.
The organization should set up several independent groups,working on the same problem.
All effective alternatives should be examined.
Each member should discuss the group's ideas with trusted people outside of the group.
The group should invite outside experts into meetings. Group members should be allowed to discuss with and question the outside experts.
At least one group member should be assigned the role of Devil's advocate. This should be a different person for each meeting.
The thicker the thigh the sweeter the pie.
The thicker the thigh the sweeter the pie.