What sort of group dynamic may have led officials at NASA to ignore warnings and launch the space shuttle Challenger, which exploded shortly after takeoff ?
A) groupthink
B) peer pressure
C) social influence
D) group cohesion

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Groupthink is the tendency for a group to prioritize consensus over critical thinking and dissenting opinions, leading to flawed decision-making. In the case of NASA and the Challenger launch, there was pressure to meet deadlines and maintain the public perception of NASA's capabilities, which may have contributed to a culture of groupthink, causing officials to overlook warnings and launch the shuttle despite the risks. Peer pressure and social influence can be components of groupthink, but they are not specific enough to fully explain the decision-making process in this situation. Group cohesion is important for teamwork and collaboration, but it is not a deciding factor in ignoring warnings and launching the shuttle.

What Sort of Group Dynamic May Have Led Officials at NASA