Anxiety and defective decision making: an elaboration of the groupthink model

Purpose – This article sets out to revisit Janis' groupthink theory that holds that, when anxiety is present for a decision‐making group, premature concurrence seeking emerges unless other mitigating factors are present. Research from selected segments of the decision making literature are introduced to explain the underlying causes of concurrence seeking. The result is an elaboration of the theory based on a synthesis of older and newer ideas, supporting Janis' core thesis that anxiety triggers this phenomenon. Design/methodology/approach – The paper is conceptual and draws on literature addressing the impact of emotions on decision‐making behaviour; human responses to anxiety, including psychological defence modes and mechanisms; and groupthink research and writing. Findings – The theoretical elaboration of the groupthink model centres on the idea that anxiety associated with a decision task triggers implicit motivations of anxiety reduction in groups, which are enacted through the activation of common defence mechanisms, thus resulting in the symptoms of defective decision making. A table that recasts the symptoms of groupthink as common defence mechanisms is provided. Research limitations/implications – Suggestions are made for broadening the conceptual base of the groupthink model, including consideration of the research on negative and positive emotions. Practical implications – The article distinguishes between poor decision making due to groupthink and other causes. Remedies for the emergence of groupthink include better approaches to recognising and surfacing anxiety and other negative emotions, so they can be managed constructively. Such remedies complement more conventional methods of improving group decision making. Originality/value – The article focuses on the underlying causes of premature concurrence seeking, an aspect of the groupthink model that is not well understood. It builds on Janis' explanation of anxiety as the main cause, by elaborating the linkages between the presence of anxiety, the symptoms of groupthink and the signs of defective decision making. In this, the article draws on research into the effects of negative emotions on decision‐making behaviour and related theories. It synthesises several research streams to provide a more comprehensive explanation of concurrence seeking.