Alive and Well after 25 Years: A Review of Groupthink Research
Abstract
This article provides a summary of empirical research on groupthink theory. Groupthink research, including analyses of historical cases of poor group decision making and laboratory tests of groupthink, is reviewed. Results from these two research areas are briefly compared. Theoretical and methodological issues for future groupthink research are identified and discussed. I conclude that groupthink research has had and continues to have considerable heuristic value. A small, but growing, body of empirical literature has been generated. In addition, groupthink research has stimulated a number of theoretical ideas, most of which have yet to be tested. Copyright 1998 Academic Press.
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Group insulation is the most predictive groupthink antecedent.
“Existing findings point out that group insulation is the most predictive groupthink antecedent [13, 30, 42].”
From Closed-mindedness and insulation in groupthink: their effects and the devil’s advocacy as a preventive measure (2021) · cites this paper as [13]
Insulation is a consistent groupthink predictor, conforming with existing findings.
“simulation results also demonstrate insulation as a consistent groupthink predictor which conforms with existing findings [13, 30, 42].”
From Closed-mindedness and insulation in groupthink: their effects and the devil’s advocacy as a preventive measure (2021) · cites this paper as [13]
Groupthink has been widely discussed in disciplines outside health care.
“Groupthink has been widely discussed in a variety of disciplines outside health care, including psychology, business and organization, political science, communication, and others (Burnette et al., 2011; Esser, 1998; Hällgren, 2010; Mpeera Ntayi et al., 2010; Pautz & Forrer, 2013; Ricciuti, 2014; Turner & Pratkanis, 2014).”
From Groupthink among health professional teams in patient care: A scoping review (2022) · cites this paper as Esser, 1998
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“…expert opinion about alternatives; (vi) similarly, selective bias to available factual or expert information supporting desirable courses of action and ignorance of external critical views against it; (vii) finally, failure to work out 15For more examples, see the review-essay Esser (1998).”
- Authors
- Esser, J. K.
- Affiliations
- Lamar University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Esser, James K
- Venue
- Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 1998-02
- Volume
- 73
- Issue
- 2-3
- Pages
- 116-141
- ISSN
- 0749-5978 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2048191404
- Cited by
- 417
- References
- 46
- Citations by year
- 2026: 29 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 38 · 2019: 17 · 2018: 34 · 2017: 26 · 2016: 18 · 2015: 35 · 2014: 19 · 2013: 24 · 2012: 27
- FWCI
- 10.46
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Team Dynamics and Performance
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Social and Intergroup Psychology
- Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Management Science and Operations Research › Leadership, Behavior, and Decision-Making Studies
- Keywords
- groupthink, group decision making, heuristic value, research agenda
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