How Groupthink Makes Smart People Make Dumb Decisions

Have you ever wondered why some of the smartest people make terrible decisions? It’s not a lack of intelligence—it’s groupthink. In this 9-minute 33-second video, we explore how groupthink, the urge to agree and maintain harmony, can lead brilliant minds to catastrophic outcomes. From historical disasters to modern pitfalls, we uncover the hidden force behind some of the world’s biggest blunders.
We dive into the origins of groupthink, starting with Socrates challenging Athens’ consensus in 400 BCE, to Galileo facing the Church’s dogma in the 17th century, and Irving Janis defining it in 1972 while analyzing the Bay of Pigs invasion. These stories reveal a pattern: when groups prioritize unity over critical thinking, disaster follows. Take the Bay of Pigs—Kennedy’s advisors, blinded by confidence, ignored flaws, leading to a humiliating defeat. Or the Challenger disaster, where NASA dismissed engineers’ warnings about O-rings, resulting in tragedy. Even the 2008 financial crisis saw Wall Street’s elite convince themselves the housing market was invincible, triggering a global meltdown.
Groupthink isn’t history—it’s alive in social media echo chambers and corporate boardrooms today. But there’s hope. We share practical fixes: appoint devil’s advocates, invite outsiders, run pre-mortems, foster psychological safety, and stay open to change. These strategies can break the cycle and sharpen decision-making.
Join us to learn why smart people fall into this trap and how to avoid it. Perfect for anyone curious about psychology, leadership, or history’s lessons. #groupthink #decisionmaking #psychology #history #learningfrommistakes #criticalthinking #leadership #teamwork #innovation #truth #Socrates #Galileo #BayOfPigs #ChallengerDisaster #FinancialCrisis #SocialMedia #EchoChambers #DevilsAdvocate #PreMortem #PsychologicalSafety

Disclaimer: This video is narrated in my own words, based on original research and public domain information. For the latest accuracy, please verify with your own research.