There’s a pattern we can see in specific groups throughout society. This pattern creates an environment where all members of a group begin to think alike and there is very little, if any, critical thinking being practiced. This happens, often, more easily than we think. Many of us fall 
prey to this due to our need to fit in, or to not make waves. This pattern is known as groupthink.
You may be wondering what groupthink is. Well, I happened to find a really good definition from Psychology Today. Their definition says, “Groupthink occurs when a group values harmony and coherence over accurate analysis and critical evaluation. It causes individual members of the group to unquestioningly follow the word of the leader and it strongly discourages any disagreement with the consensus.” Now, there are a lot of groups we can think of that are like this. There were many in history and also in present day. Of course, the many examples run from the minor to the extreme. And the examples are at every scale. This can happen in Nations all the way down to your local PTA meetings.
There was one job I had a number of years ago. The workers in the company were unionized. Then there were the company men. The union guys were often at odds with the company men. This created a fairly contentious working environment. The thing I noticed was that the union guys were always talking about how they were unfairly treated. So, the union members began to all say the same things and sound all alike after a while. And I can’t really speak for the company guys all saying the same things since there was only 1 or 2 company guys there. I imagine, though, that could have been the case with them as well. Now, both sides probably had some valid arguments. However, while they may have been true in part, they were not true on the whole. What I’ve found to be helpful in these situations is objectivity. Objectivity can be difficult in these situations. Although, it’s usually beneficial to examine the other side’s arguments without a bias. A good question to ask ourselves would be: Are there any areas where they might have a valid point? Also, on my own side, are there any areas where we might be wrong? In this way you can find a more even keel approach to things. You might even get some of the people on your side to think more objectively by presenting your argument to them. I can entirely see now how union and company negotiations are so difficult. People really get entrenched in their way of thinking.
Well, anyway, this is just one of the many examples of groupthink. I’m sure you’ve seen some yourself. The main thing, I think, is to recognize it when we see it. It’s best to just take a step back and say, “OK, am I really taking an honest look at things here?” Otherwise we can end up falling in line with some ways of thinking that just aren’t right.
Of course, examples of groupthink aren’t just limited to our everyday lives. There were also a number of examples in the Bible as well. One I can think of is in Exodus 32:1: “And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for [as for] this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.” You can see here that the Israelites were all starting to say the same thing. Moses was up on Mount Sinai and since they hadn’t seen him for so long they started to doubt. And because they doubted they didn’t trust God. They decided to build their own god. Often times these things start with one person, or a small group of people, and then it just spreads from there. And then if there is no one there to speak some sense, and stop the tide, it can grow unchecked. In this case it was an egregious affair where the Israelites sinned against God by worshipping and sacrificing to idols.
Lifestyle factors such as smoking and drinking cialis no prescription overnight alcohol. Its effect lasts for about 24 hours and it just takes only 15 minutes for the jelly to work. buy levitra robertrobb.com You should value and care each other’s emotions to check out for more canadian pharmacy for cialis give the relation a long way in overcoming erectile dysfunction. In some areas, a soft variant of Eriacta is available, but even this one is very much important for you to know levitra online http://robertrobb.com/2014/10/ the proper strength of the pills before consuming. See, I also want to make it clear that everyone thinking similar, or in line with each other, isn’t necessarily bad. Unity and togetherness can be good things when everyone is thinking and acting in ways that are in line with the truth. The problem comes when a group of people all start thinking alike in ways that aren’t in line with the truth. This can even happen in our Churches. Rumors can spread that aren’t true, or attitudes can spread that aren’t right, and even Bible teaching can spread that isn’t right. One good verse to remember here is 2 Timothy 2:15, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” See, this can be our guard against wrong thinking in any area of our lives. This verse tells us to, “study to show ourselves approved” unto who? Unto God. That’s right. And not unto man. Then it says, “a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” See, when we are rightly dividing the word of truth we can know we are in the truth. So, even when other people may try to lead us astray we can stay in line with God and his truth.
We are not conformed to this world, but we are transformed by the renewing of our minds. So, here we can use what we learned in 2 Timothy 2:15 and apply the word that we have learned to our thinking, and by applying it to our thinking this transforms our thinking and also keeps us from becoming conformed to the world’s way of thinking. Cool stuff, huh?
Anyway, groupthink can sneak up on any of us easily. But as long as we recognize it when it begins and apply the word, like described above, we can effectively expel these ways of thinking from our lives.
2 Timothy 2:15, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
Romans 12:2: “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
Another good guard against getting led astray by other people is this verse in Romans 12:2: “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” So, now knowing what we know from studying the word, like it says in 2 Timothy 2:15, what do we do?