Overview
The group context, itself, can be a source of bias in decision-making and interpretation.
Types
| Name | Description | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| Groupthink | The psychological phenomenon that occurs within a group of people in which the desire for harmony or conformity in the group results in an irrational or dysfunctional decision-making outcome. Group members try to minimize conflict and reach a consensus decision without critical evaluation of alternative viewpoints by actively suppressing dissenting viewpoints, and by isolating themselves from outside influences. | [1] |
| Bandwagon effect | The tendency to do (or believe) things because many other people do (or believe) the same. | [1] |
| Shared information bias | Known as the tendency for group members to spend more time and energy discussing information that all members are already familiar with (i.e., shared information), and less time and energy discussing information that only some members are aware of (i.e., unshared information). | [1] [2] |
Practical Perspectives
- De-emphasize the criteria of popularity and normalcy in your decision-making and interpretation critera.
- De-emphasize the group setting when forming opinions such as asking for members to write down their perspectives before hearing the perspectives of others.
- Positively reinforce group members who are willing to share divergent perspectives.
- Actively name the phenomenon during important discussions.
Related Fallacies
| Name | Description | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| Argumentum ad populum (appeal to widespread belief, bandwagon argument, appeal to the majority, appeal to the people) | A proposition is claimed to be true or good solely because a majority or many people believe it to be so. | [3] [4] |
References & Acknowledgements
[1] Wikipedia contributors. "List of cognitive biases." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 14 Jul. 2020. Web. 23 Jul. 2020. link
[2] Forsyth DR (2009). Group Dynamics (5th ed.). Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole.
[3] Wikipedia contributors. "List of fallacies." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 26 Jul. 2020. Web. 28 Jul. 2020.
[4] "Appeal to Widespread Belief". Archived from the original on 13 June 2011. Retrieved 6 October 2012.
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