Many years ago when I was in school I took a series of psychology courses. One of the experiments we studied was how individuals function differently in groups than they function as individuals.
Individuals were placed in a room under the guise of completing a job application. Smoke was introduced through the vents. Without exception the individuals left the room and reported the smoke to the person who brought them into the room.
At another time different people were placed in a room in groups also under the guise of completing a job application. Smoke was again introduced into the room. In the majority of situations no one reported the smoke. Researchers concluded when the individuals in a group saw the smoke, they looked at the other individuals and since the others were doing nothing it was interpreted as not a problem.
On a hot afternoon in Coleman, Texas, the story goes; a family is comfortably playing dominoes on a porch, until the father-in-law suggests they take a trip to Abilene, fifty-three miles north, for dinner. The wife says, "Sounds like a great idea." The husband, despite having reservations because the drive is long and hot, thinks that his preferences must be out of step with the group and says, "Sounds good to me. I just hope your mother wants to go." The mother-in-law then says, of course I want to go. I haven't been to Abilene in a long time." The drive is hot, dusty and long. When they arrive at the cafeteria, the food is bad. They arrive back home four hours later, exhausted. One of them dishonestly says, "It was a great trip, wasn't it?"
The mother-in-law says that, actually, she would rather have stayed home, but went along since the other three were so enthusiastic." The husband says, "I didn't want to go. I only went to satisfy the rest of you." The wife says, "I just went along to keep you happy. I would have to be crazy to want to go out in the heat like that." The father-in-law says that he only suggested it because he thought the others might be bored.
The group sits back, perplexed that they together decided to take a trip which none of them wanted. They each would have preferred to sit comfortably, but did not admit to it when they still had time to enjoy the afternoon.
This is a benign but dramatic illustration of the consequences of groupthink. Every member of the group agreed to do something they didn't want to do because they thought the others were committed to doing it. The result was that no one came away happy.
We, the men of GSMCOC, have shown we cannot discuss sensitive personnel issues. Until we are able, groupthink will rule.
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"Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face"
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