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Victims of Groupthink
There are many factors that affect scientific objectivity. Even the most diligent and bias-free scientists may be influenced by various factors that compromise their impartiality. Like all people, scientists carry their own personal perspectives. These may be ideological, psychological, or other types of attitudes shaped by social influences. Scientific objectivity requires freedom from personal, political, religious, and social preferences. Of the many psychological factors that influence objectivity, I will focus on groupthink, which has not been adequately recognized as a bias factor in the evolution of science.
Groupthink was defined by Irving Janis, an American research psychologist at Yale. Janis defined groupthink as a mode of thinking that people engage in when they are deeply involved in a cohesive group, when the members’ strivings for unanimity override their motivation to realistically appraise alternative courses of action. In other words, the need for harmony and conformity within a group drives the selection of ideas, overlooking the critical appraisal of alternatives that may create conflict within the group. Interestingly, nineteenth century philosopher Nietzsche had gone as far as to say that madness is the exception in individuals but the rule in groups.
Think about the last time you were part of a group. Someone proposes an idea and you may think that the idea…
