Groupthink (Re: question for sociologists)

[Wojtek Sokolowski]

I think "groupthink" in org theory refers more to ex post
rationalization than sycophancy.  The argument goes like that: under
condition of uncertainty people tend to fall back on old, tried, or
conventionally accepted solutions (hence the metaphor "garbage can" by
which these theories are sometimes called)  - but afterwards rationalize
their choices in terms of ideologically acceptable standards (e.g.
efficiency maximization).  But that does not necessarily mean
rubber-stamping what the boss says.  In many organizations obvious
suckin-up is often despised, and replaced with more subtle varieties
(e.g. developing a line to the point where the conclusion is obvious to
anyone with half a brain, but then deviating from that line and letting
your boss to "solve the problem" and draw the right conclusion).

Sycophancy, in my view, is a different trait than groupthink.
Groupthink is the rigid adherence to a prevailing principle, whereas
sycophancy is blind loyalty to a person regardless of any principles.
Groupthink may lead to questionning of an authority figure if that
figure deviates from the principle accepted by the group.  Sycophancy
will never question authority - it will abandon principles.  

A good insight into this can be found in Else Frenkel-Brunswick, Parents
and Childhood as Seen through the Interviews, in Adorno et al., _The
Authoritarian Personality_  vol. 1.  Frenkel-Brunswick argues that
children raised by authoritarian parents learn that it is obedience to
authority rather than sticking to pronciples that pays - and develop
that trait in their personalities.

Wojtek

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-lbo-talk at lists.panix.com
[mailto:owner-lbo-talk at lists.panix.com] On Behalf Of Stannard67 at aol.com
Sent: Wednesday, February 05, 2003 10:54 AM
To: lbo-talk at lists.panix.com
Subject: Groupthink (Re: question for sociologists)

The tendency of subordinates to tell superiors what they wish to hear is
one symptom of groupthink, which is more in the realm of organizational
communication studies than sociology.

See:

http://choo.fis.utoronto.ca/FIS/Courses/LIS2149/Groupthink.html 

stannard