Warning Signs of Groupthink

Recognize these patterns before they produce bad decisions:

• Illusion of unanimity — silence is read as agreement; people who say nothing get counted as supporters
• Self-censorship — members hold back doubts to avoid being the dissenter or slowing the group down
• Mind guards — informal enforcers pressure would-be dissenters to stay quiet for the sake of group cohesion
• Collective rationalization — the group explains away warnings instead of pausing to reconsider

The most dangerous part of groupthink is that it feels like consensus. From the inside, it is hard to tell apart from genuine agreement.