Cohesiveness without Groupthink

Abstract

This study attempts to examine the role of task-oriented cohesion and its relationship to social-emotional cohesion within the groupthink framework. Specifically, it was predicted that the symptoms of groupthink would be least likely to appear when task-oriented cohesion exceeded social-emotional cohesion. In addition, it was predicted that the symptoms of group-think would be most likely to appear when social-emotional cohesion was high. The design manipulated type of cohesion (social-emotional cohesion: high vs. low; task-oriented cohesion: high vs. low) with the symptoms of groupthink serving as dependent variables. Group members were asked to indicate the degree to which they experienced the symptoms of groupthink after completing a decision-making task. Results indicated that the combination of low social-emotional and high task-oriented cohesion resulted in the lowest perception of groupthink symptoms. In addition, groups high in social-emotional cohesion were more likely to experience the symptoms of groupthink than were groups high in task-oriented cohesion. Implications of these findings for cohesion and the groupthink model are discussed.