In terms of decision-making, what is a potential risk associated with groupthink?

Groupthink refers to a phenomenon that occurs when a cohesive group prioritizes consensus over critical evaluation, leading to faulty decision-making. When groupthink is present, individuals may suppress dissenting opinions or ignore alternative viewpoints to maintain harmony within the group. This inclination to seek agreement can result in a neglect of realistic assessment, where the group fails to critically analyze the situation, consider the full range of options, or realistically evaluate potential risks and drawbacks of the decision being made.

In this context, neglecting realistic assessment means that important information and diverse perspectives that could lead to better outcomes are overlooked. This can lead to poor decisions that might not only be ineffective but also detrimental to the goals of the group or organization. Therefore, when a group experiences groupthink, their decision-making process becomes compromised, as they are more focused on maintaining group cohesion than on making sound, well-considered choices.