Victims of Groupthink: A Psychological Study of Foreign-Policy Decisions and Fiascoes

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July 20, 2026

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Groupthink is a psychological phenomenon where individuals in a cohesive group prioritize consensus over critical evaluation, leading to flawed decision-making. Social psychologist Irving Janis developed this theory in his 1972 study, Victims of Groupthink: A Psychological Study of Foreign-Policy Decisions and Fiascoes.1

Janis examined foreign policy blunders like the Bay of Pigs invasion and the Vietnam War, seeking to understand why intelligent groups made poor choices. Symptoms of groupthink include an illusion of invulnerability, collective rationalization, stereotyping opponents, and self-censorship. This mode of thinking reduces the efficiency of problem-solving by neglecting alternatives and ignoring risks.1

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groupthink
… in his classic 1972 study, Victims of Groupthink: A Psychological Study of Foreign-Policy Decisions and Fiascoes, which focused on the psychological mechanism behind foreign policy decisions such as the Pearl Harbor bombing, the Vietnam War, and the Bay of Pigs invasion.
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… in his classic 1972 study, Victims of Groupthink: A Psychological Study of Foreign-Policy Decisions and Fiascoes, which focused on the psychological mechanism behind foreign policy decisions such as the Pearl Harbor bombing, the Vietnam War, and the Bay of Pigs invasion.
Read More