Groupthink: Psychological Studies of Policy Decisions and FiascoesGroupthink - the psychological drive for consensus at any cost that suppresses disagreement and prevents the appraisal of alternatives in cohesive decision-making groups. In the first edition (Victims of groupthink), Iriving L. Janis showed how this phenomenon contributed to some of the major U.S. foreign policy fiascos of recent decades: the Korean War stalemate, the escalation of the Vietnam War, the failure to be prepared for the attack on Pearl Harbor, and the Bay of Pigs blunder. He also examined cases, such as the handling of the Cuban Missile Crisis and the formulation of the Marshall Plan, where groupthink was avoided. Here, in this revised and expanded edition, Janis applies his hypothesis to the Watergate cover-up, portraying in detail how groupthink helped to put the participants on a disastrous couurse and keep them there. In addition, he presents some fresh ideas on how and why groupthink occurs and offers suggestions for avoiding it. |
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Page 20
In response to the President ' s questions about the plan , Allen Dulles and
Richard Bissell assured Kennedy and his advisory group that all the world would
believe that Cuban dissidents were the sole initiators and executors of the
invasion .
In response to the President ' s questions about the plan , Allen Dulles and
Richard Bissell assured Kennedy and his advisory group that all the world would
believe that Cuban dissidents were the sole initiators and executors of the
invasion .
Page 23
As it turned out , Castro ' s army responded promptly and vigorously to the
invasion , even though the invaders fought well . A militia patrol , guarding the
coastline because of the invasion alert , was on hand to shoot at the vanguard of
the ...
As it turned out , Castro ' s army responded promptly and vigorously to the
invasion , even though the invaders fought well . A militia patrol , guarding the
coastline because of the invasion alert , was on hand to shoot at the vanguard of
the ...
Page 337
also Advisory group ( Kimmel ' s ) in Pearl Harbor Bundy , McGeorge Bay of Pigs
invasion and , 281 , 283 Cuban missile crisis and , 134 , 135 , 143 - 144
qualifications of , 17 Vietnam War escalation and , 99 , 115 , 117 see also
Advisory ...
also Advisory group ( Kimmel ' s ) in Pearl Harbor Bundy , McGeorge Bay of Pigs
invasion and , 281 , 283 Cuban missile crisis and , 134 , 135 , 143 - 144
qualifications of , 17 Vietnam War escalation and , 99 , 115 , 117 see also
Advisory ...
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Contents
Why So Many Miscalculations? | 2 |
The Bay of Pigs | 14 |
Or Why the Fortress Slept | 72 |
Copyright | |
4 other sections not shown
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Common terms and phrases
accept according action administration Admiral advisers alternative American appears asked assumptions attack avoid Bay of Pigs become called Chiefs cohesive Committee concerning consensus consequences continued course cover-up crisis critical Cuba Cuban danger Dean decision decision-making Defense deliberations Department discussion effect errors evidence example Executive expected fact factors feel fiasco forces give groupthink Haldeman invasion involved issues Japanese Johnson judgment Kennedy leader leading major March meetings military missile moral Nixon norms North objections officers operation participants Pearl Harbor policy-making political position possible present President pressures probably problem procedures proposed questions responsible result risks role says Secretary seems Senator shared social Soviet staff stress strong suggested symptoms of groupthink thinking threat tion transcripts Truman United Vietnam warning Watergate White House