Which event is cited as a real-world consequence of groupthink?

Passage

Read the following passage and answer the questions based on the passage: Group thinking, often referred to as groupthink, is a psychological phenomenon wherein the desire for unanimity within a group overrides the motivation to appraise alternative viewpoints critically. It frequently leads to flawed decision-making because dissent is either internally suppressed or socially penalized. Social conformity, its close ally, describes the act of aligning one's beliefs or behaviours with those of a majority, often subconsciously, in pursuit of acceptance or avoidance of conflict. In tightly knit groups—such as corporate boards, political committees, or academic panels—individual members may refrain from expressing contrarian ideas, fearing ostracization or reputational risk. Over time, this collective homogeneity breeds intellectual stagnation, reducing innovation and enhancing vulnerability to strategic errors. The infamous Bay of Pigs invasion and the Challenger space shuttle disaster are frequently cited as textbook examples of decisions marred by groupthink. Psychologically, the roots of group conformity lie in our evolutionary inclination toward tribal belonging, where deviation was historically associated with survival risk. In modern society, the same instinct manifests through peer pressure, organizational culture, and digital echo chambers. Algorithms reinforce conformity by curating information bubbles that validate existing biases while filtering out divergent thought. However, the remedy to such cognitive myopia lies in institutionalizing dissent. Constructive disagreement, when encouraged within teams or communities, acts as an intellectual safeguard against tunnel vision. Promoting a culture where counterarguments are respected rather than reprimanded can lead to more robust, balanced, and resilient decision-making. In an age dominated by viral trends, polarized discourse, and performative alignment, the courage to question consensus is both rare and essential. True progress emerges not from blind allegiance to majority norms, but from critical inquiry and the audacity to challenge the comfortable.

Question

Which event is cited as a real-world consequence of groupthink?

1. A. Cold War treaty signing
2. B. Challenger disaster (Correct answer)
3. C. Brexit vote
4. D. The Dot-com crash

Correct Answer

Option B — Challenger disaster

Detailed Solution & Explanation

The correct answer is Challenger disaster.

Key Points

• The passage names two textbook cases of decisions marred by groupthink: the Bay of Pigs invasion and the Challenger space shuttle disaster.
• Only the Challenger appears among the options, which settles it.
• The distractors — a Cold War treaty signing, the Brexit vote and the Dot-com crash — are all plausible-sounding real events that the passage never mentions. Plausibility is not evidence in a comprehension question.
• The Challenger broke apart shortly after launch in January 1986, and the decision to launch despite engineers' warnings is the standard case study in suppressed dissent.
• Answer strictly from the text: if an option is not in the passage, it is wrong however true it may be in general.

Additional Information

• The Challenger shuttle broke apart shortly after launch in January 1986; the decision to proceed despite engineers' concerns is the standard case study in suppressed dissent.
• The Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba in 1961 is the case that led psychologist Irving Janis to coin the term *groupthink* in 1972.
• Where a passage names examples, expect a question on them — mark proper nouns and dates on the first reading.