Question

• What is an example of groupthink from your own life or experience? How did it come about? How could it have been avoided?

• Next, identify two primary groups in your own life; what are the characteristics of these groups? How are they similar, how are they different? Then, identify two secondary groups of which you are a part. How do these two types of groups “feel” different? Do they “feel” similar in any ways?

Answer 1

1. EXAMPLE OF GROUPTHINK FROM OWN LIFE EXPERIENCE-

a. One of my friend's father was suffering from a severe kidney problem. He was treated by 2-3 doctors and was hospitalized for several days but the disorder was not cured.

b. Another friend of us enquired and got information about an old Aayurveda Herbal Medicines) doctor residing in remote rural part of India. He was believed to have expertise in this area.

c. When the family members of the friend and some of our friends were discussing about what to do further. All kept mum and everybody was reluctant to display the true opinion and each one was trying to avoide the possible conflict that the onging traetment will have to be stopped if the patient is to be taken to Aayurvedic doctor. Finally, the patient was not taken to him and patient died.

d. If members of the group/ people in the discussion would have expressed themselves frankly, not caring for the conflict to occur, which is a natural process and if the decision making would have been more rational in the froup, the patient would have been taken to Aayurveda doctor and his life would have been saved.

2. PRIMARY GROUPS IN OWN LIFE- a. We are the three friens since childhood. Our age is 36 and the age of our friendship is 31 years! We are having an affinity and influence each other's decision making. We are there in each others' happiness and sorrows every time without any fail. LIFE cannot be imagined without the remaining two by any one of us.

b. Basically being Indian, i am part of a sacred place where people regularly meet offer prayers, chant the name of the Creator (the way most of the Indians do). The people belonging to this group have similar interests, similar likes/ dislikes and lifestyles. For example, everybody believes in the power of the chanting of the name of the Lord (called as Namasmaran in Sanskrit).

3. a. Sometimes, i play cricket. The members with whom i play cricket occasionally make a secondary group for me. It's not having any direct impact on my personal life nor vice versa. The contact time is comparatively less. There's lesser affection.

b. The peers at the workplace even fall in the second category as the relationship is formal and there is always a distance between any two unlike in the case of the primary group members. The concern for each other in secondary group is less. Primary group displays sharing of culture in far a stronger and lastnig manner.