posted on Aug, 16 2003 @ 02:35 PM
For those who are interested in the dysfunctional group processes that occur in these small tight-knit policy-making groups, I reference:
Janis, I.L. (1982). Groupthink: Psychological Studies of Policy Decisions and Fiascoes (2nd ed.). Houghton Mifflin.
Basically, Janis (1982) asserts that there are measurable symptoms of groupthink:
1. Illusion of Invulnerability
2. Stereotyping Outsiders
3. Bounded rationality and tethered assumptions
4. Belief in Inherent Morality
5. Self-Censorship
6. Direct Pressure on Dissenters
7. Mindguards
And there is also something called social diffusion of responsibility that is also happening in these groups, this is how they manage to escape
feeling guilt for the negative consequences of their actions:
Social diffusion of responsibility reflects a belief that the presence of other people in a situation makes one less personally responsible
for the events that occur in that situation.
sol.brunel.ac.uk...
The link is pretty good at explaining it, but if you get a chance go check out the Janis book, he outlines several real historical events using
official, documented government sources. His work also has implications for efficacy of long-term group "expressive" psychotherapy.
[Edited on 16-8-2003 by MKULTRA]