Some scholars have suggested that Groupthink may have been operating when the U.S. made the decision to go to war in Iraq in 2003. Among other arguments, they cite the fact that some government and military leaders predicted that victory in Iraq would be swift because the terrorists/insurgents were not organized or technologically advanced enough to fight U.S. forces successfully. This could be considered an example of
A) belief in the inherent morality of the group
B) collective rationalization
C) out-group stereotypes
D) self-appointed mindguards

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Out-group stereotypes refer to the oversimplified and undervalued perception of the out-group, in this case, the terrorists/insurgents, by assuming they were not capable of effective resistance due to lack of organization or technological advancement. This underestimation reflects a stereotypical view of the opponent's capabilities.

Some Scholars Have Suggested That Groupthink May Have Been Operating