--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: groupthink occurs when people “are deeply…" description: "\"“groupthink occurs when people “are deeply involved in a cohesive in-group,” and their “strivings for unanimity override their motivation to realistica..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b56/adam-m-grant-1427_motivation_groupthink-occurs-when-people-are-deeply_865029.jpg" --- # groupthink occurs when people “are deeply involved in a… ![“groupthink occurs when people “are deeply involved in a cohesive in-group,” and their “strivings for unanimity override their motivation to realistically appraise alternative courses of action.” quote by Adam M. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b56/adam-m-grant-1427_motivation_groupthink-occurs-when-people-are-deeply_865029.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b56/adam-m-grant-1427_motivation_groupthink-occurs-when-people-are-deeply_865029.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b56/adam-m-grant-1427_motivation_groupthink-occurs-when-people-are-deeply_865029.jpg) > ““groupthink occurs when people “are deeply involved in a cohesive in-group,” and their “strivings for unanimity override their motivation to realistically appraise alternative courses of action.”” [Adam M. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-m-grant/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Groupthink drives conformity, suppressing critical evaluation of alternatives. **In simple terms:** Conformity blocks critical thinking. Key Takeaway Encourage dissent, seek diverse views. Themes groupthink conformity decisionmaking Mood analytical cautious Type executive educational When to use this quote - team meetings - strategic planning - policy development Key Concepts psychology social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How do you create safe spaces for disagreement? - What mechanisms can prevent unanimity bias? A Different Perspective Groupthink can arise even with good intentions, limiting innovation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cohesive Group](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cohesive-group-893519/) [Group Strivings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/group-strivings-893520/) [Groupthink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/groupthink/) [Groupthink Occurs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/groupthink-occurs-893518/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) [Occurs People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/occurs-people-893521/) ## Related quotes > [“Groups have powerful self-reinforcing mechanisms at work. 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So I think, as a side effect,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-brooker/online-you-re-trying-to-appeal-to-everyone-and-people-who-you-don-t/) [Charlie Brooker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-brooker/) > [We need people to point out groupthink - We need people to point out stale, old, dumb thinking - and we sometimes need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-lovett/we-need-people-to-point-out-groupthink-we-need-people-to-point-out/) [Jon Lovett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-lovett/) > [“Groupthink seems like a safe path. But no inventor/researcher finds what he seeks there”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henk-mutsaers/groupthink-seems-like-a-safe-path-but-no-inventor-researcher-finds/) [Henk Mutsaers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henk-mutsaers/) > [“The majority never has right on its side. Never I say! That is one of the social lies that a free, thinking man is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henrik-ibsen/the-majority-never-has-right-on-its-side-never-i-say-that-is-one-of/) [Henrik Ibsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henrik-ibsen/) > [Solitude is out of fashion. Our companies, our schools and our culture are in thrall to an idea I call the New Groupthink, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/solitude-is-out-of-fashion-our-companies-our-schools-and-our-culture/) [Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/) > [...remember the dangers of the New Groupthink. If it's creativity you're after, ask your employees to solve problems alone before sharing their ideas. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/remember-the-dangers-of-the-new-groupthink-if-it-s-creativity-you-re/) [Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/) > [“I never cease to be amazed at how common groupthink is among today's populace.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-m-mcgroarty/i-never-cease-to-be-amazed-at-how-common-groupthink-is-among-today-s/) [Colin M. McGroarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-m-mcgroarty/) > [“The psychological components of war have not gone away—dominance, vengeance, callousness, tribalism, groupthink, self-deception”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/the-psychological-components-of-war-have-not-gone-away-dominance/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) > [Think for yourself. Unplug yourself from follow-the-follower groupthink, and virtually ignore what everyone else in your industry is saying (except the ones everyone agrees…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-pavlina/think-for-yourself-unplug-yourself-from-follow-the-follower/) [Steve Pavlina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-pavlina/) > [“Alice is fictional. This isn't.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-c-scott-2/alice-is-fictional-this-isn-t/) [Jess C. Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-c-scott-2/) > [“Everybody goes where everybody goes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-vato/everybody-goes-where-everybody-goes/) [Thomas Vato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-vato/) ## More by Adam M. Grant > [“the higher the psychological safety in a unit, the fewer errors they made. Why? In the units that lacked psychological safety, health care professionals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-m-grant/the-higher-the-psychological-safety-in-a-unit-the-fewer-errors-they/) [Adam M. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-m-grant/) > [“And in the long run, research shows that the mistakes we regret are not errors of commission, but errors of omission. If we could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-m-grant/and-in-the-long-run-research-shows-that-the-mistakes-we-regret-are/) [Adam M. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-m-grant/) > [“Although many successful givers start from the default of trusting others’ intentions, they’re also careful to scan their environments to screen for potential takers,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-m-grant/although-many-successful-givers-start-from-the-default-of-trusting/) [Adam M. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-m-grant/) > [“I want to debunk the myth that originality requires extreme risk taking and persuade you that originals are actually far more ordinary than we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-m-grant/i-want-to-debunk-the-myth-that-originality-requires-extreme-risk/) [Adam M. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-m-grant/) > [“the change of context brought renewed energy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-m-grant/the-change-of-context-brought-renewed-energy/) [Adam M. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-m-grant/) > [“I was dismayed to discover that even today, speaking while female remains notoriously difficult. Across cultures, there’s a rich body of evidence showing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-m-grant/i-was-dismayed-to-discover-that-even-today-speaking-while-female/) [Adam M. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-m-grant/) > [“Setting high expectations is so important,” Skender says. “You have to push people, make them stretch and do more than they think possible.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-m-grant/setting-high-expectations-is-so-important-skender-says-you-have-to/) [Adam M. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-m-grant/) > [“analysts were more likely to maintain their star performance if they worked with high-quality colleagues in their teams and departments. The star analysts relied…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-m-grant/analysts-were-more-likely-to-maintain-their-star-performance-if-they/) [Adam M. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-m-grant/) > [“Speak softly, but carry a big stick. —Theodore Roosevelt, U.S. president”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-m-grant/speak-softly-but-carry-a-big-stick-theodore-roosevelt-u-s-president/) [Adam M. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-m-grant/) > [“Talented people are attracted to those who care about them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-m-grant/talented-people-are-attracted-to-those-who-care-about-them/) [Adam M. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-m-grant/) > [“When our audiences are skeptical, the more we try to dominate them, the more they resist. Even with a receptive audience, dominance is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-m-grant/when-our-audiences-are-skeptical-the-more-we-try-to-dominate-them-the/) [Adam M. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-m-grant/) > [“Whereas success is zero-sum in a group of takers, in groups of givers, it may be true that the whole is greater than the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-m-grant/whereas-success-is-zero-sum-in-a-group-of-takers-in-groups-of-givers/) [Adam M. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-m-grant/) > [“Tim Long adds that “there’s something magical about getting the reputation as someone who cares about others more than yourself. It redounds to your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-m-grant/tim-long-adds-that-there-s-something-magical-about-getting-the/) [Adam M. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-m-grant/) > [“In a classic experiment, when people received help from one peer, they were more likely to give help to another peer, matching by following…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-m-grant/in-a-classic-experiment-when-people-received-help-from-one-peer-they/) [Adam M. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-m-grant/) > [“A new scientific truth does not triumph by convincing its opponents and making them see the light, but rather because its opponents eventually die.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-m-grant/a-new-scientific-truth-does-not-triumph-by-convincing-its-opponents/) [Adam M. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-m-grant/) [Explore all 241 Adam M. Grant quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-m-grant/) ## More Groupthink quotes > [“Everybody goes where everybody goes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-vato/everybody-goes-where-everybody-goes/) [Thomas Vato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-vato/) > [“Groups have powerful self-reinforcing mechanisms at work. These can lead to group polarization—a tendency for members of the group to end up in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-montier/groups-have-powerful-self-reinforcing-mechanisms-at-work-these-can/) [James Montier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-montier/) > [“Alice is fictional. This isn't.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-c-scott-2/alice-is-fictional-this-isn-t/) [Jess C. Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-c-scott-2/) > [Think for yourself. Unplug yourself from follow-the-follower groupthink, and virtually ignore what everyone else in your industry is saying (except the ones everyone agrees…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-pavlina/think-for-yourself-unplug-yourself-from-follow-the-follower/) [Steve Pavlina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-pavlina/) > [“The psychological components of war have not gone away—dominance, vengeance, callousness, tribalism, groupthink, self-deception”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/the-psychological-components-of-war-have-not-gone-away-dominance/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) > [“I never cease to be amazed at how common groupthink is among today's populace.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-m-mcgroarty/i-never-cease-to-be-amazed-at-how-common-groupthink-is-among-today-s/) [Colin M. McGroarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-m-mcgroarty/) > [...remember the dangers of the New Groupthink. If it's creativity you're after, ask your employees to solve problems alone before sharing their ideas. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/remember-the-dangers-of-the-new-groupthink-if-it-s-creativity-you-re/) [Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/) > [Solitude is out of fashion. Our companies, our schools and our culture are in thrall to an idea I call the New Groupthink, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/solitude-is-out-of-fashion-our-companies-our-schools-and-our-culture/) [Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/) > [“The majority never has right on its side. Never I say! That is one of the social lies that a free, thinking man is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henrik-ibsen/the-majority-never-has-right-on-its-side-never-i-say-that-is-one-of/) [Henrik Ibsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henrik-ibsen/) > [“Groupthink seems like a safe path. But no inventor/researcher finds what he seeks there”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henk-mutsaers/groupthink-seems-like-a-safe-path-but-no-inventor-researcher-finds/) [Henk Mutsaers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henk-mutsaers/) > [We need people to point out groupthink - We need people to point out stale, old, dumb thinking - and we sometimes need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-lovett/we-need-people-to-point-out-groupthink-we-need-people-to-point-out/) [Jon Lovett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-lovett/) > [Online, you're trying to appeal to everyone and people who you don't know at the same time. So I think, as a side effect,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-brooker/online-you-re-trying-to-appeal-to-everyone-and-people-who-you-don-t/) [Charlie Brooker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-brooker/) > [Fame or perceived success - it all comes from groupthink.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chance-the-rapper/fame-or-perceived-success-it-all-comes-from-groupthink/) [Chance the Rapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chance-the-rapper/) > [“The more amiability and esprit de corps among the members of a policy-making in-group, the greater is the danger that independent critical thinking will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-more-amiability-and-esprit-de-corps-among-the-members-of-a-policy/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The thing about Mia's logic was that it was hard to argue with without sounding like the bad guy. Every objection had a counter.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-riot/the-thing-about-mia-s-logic-was-that-it-was-hard-to-argue-with/) [Patrick Riot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-riot/) [Browse all 68 Groupthink quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/groupthink/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“groupthink occurs when people “are deeply involved in a cohesive in-group,” and their “strivings for unanimity override their motivation to realistically appraise alternative courses of action.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Adam M. 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