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Cited by 198Social and Intergroup PsychologyTeam Dynamics and PerformanceSocial Power and Status Dynamics

Threat, cohesion, and group effectiveness: Testing a social identity maintenance perspective on groupthink.

Turner, Marlene E., Pratkanis, Anthony R., Probasco, Preston, Leve, Craig·1992·Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
DOI 10.1037/0022-3514.63.5.781
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Abstract

Although Janis's concept of groupthink is influential, experimental investigations have provided only weak support for the theory. Experiment 1 produced the poor decision quality associated with groupthink by manipulating group cohesion (using group labels) and threat to group members' self-esteem. Self-reports of some groupthink and defective decision-making symptoms were independently, but not interactively, affected by cohesion and threat. Experiment 2 confirmed the success of the cohesion manipulation. Experiment 3 replicated the poor-quality decision making observed in Experiment 1 and provided support for a social identity maintenance perspective on groupthink: Groups who operated under groupthink conditions but who were given an excuse for potential poor performance produced significantly higher quality decisions than groups who worked under groupthink conditions alone. The results are used to interpret the groupthink phenomenon as a collective effort directed at warding off potentially negative views of the group.

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Crossref · 10.1037/0022-3514.63.5.781

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59 of 59 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • Groupthink reformulations have established the relationship between social identity and groupthink symptoms.

    “The groupthink reformulations [4, 21, 50] has established the relationship between social identity and groupthink symptoms.”

    From Closed-mindedness and insulation in groupthink: their effects and the devil’s advocacy as a preventive measure (2021) · cites this paper as [50]

  • The scarcity of experiments testing groupthink is caused by the difficulty of creating groupthink antecedents and the difficulty in measurements caused by the insensitivity of the group decision making task.

    “This scarcity is caused by the difficulty of the antecedents creation [4] and the difficulty in the measurements caused by the insensitivity of the group decision making task [50].”

    From Closed-mindedness and insulation in groupthink: their effects and the devil’s advocacy as a preventive measure (2021) · cites this paper as [50]

  • The groupthink concept has been challenged due to inconclusive empirical support and the need for emotional integration in its explanatory power.

    “Over the years, this concept has been challenged due to inconclusive empirical support and the need for emotional integration in its explanatory power (Aldag and Fuller, 1993; Turner et al., 1992; Kramer, 1998).”

    From The Groupfeel syndrome: a theory of a counterproductive group emotion (2026) · cites this paper as Turner et al., 1992

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Authors
Turner, M. E., Pratkanis, A. R., Probasco, P., & Leve, C.
Affiliations
San Jose State University (US)
ORCID
Leve, Craig
Venue
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
Publisher
American Psychological Association (APA)
Published
1992-11
Volume
63
Issue
5
Pages
781-796
ISSN
  • 0022-3514 (ISSN-L)
  • 1939-1315
DOI
10.1037/0022-3514.63.5.781
OpenAlex
W2120687425
Cited by
198
References
59
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 9 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 12
FWCI
10.90
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Social and Intergroup Psychology
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Team Dynamics and Performance
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Social Power and Status Dynamics
Keywords
groupthink, group cohesion, group decision quality, Janis

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