What Theological School Taught Me About Groupthink
When I studied theology in graduate school, I observed that religious groups, including my own, typically required members to adhere to a particular theology or system of beliefs.
It wasn’t acceptable to deviate from the set system. Those who did were attacked and ostracized. Those who asked piercing questions were told it was inappropriate to question.
I concluded that this was a huge mistake because it did not allow for independent thought or disagreement. I felt that any theological system needed to be held loosely and be subject to modifications whenever independent thought demanded a change.
“Strong beliefs held loosely” made sense in that context, even though I had never heard of that phrase.
Your Politics Work Just Like a Religion
Unfortunately, political groups and thought are similar to theological systems in that they, too, require adherence to a whole set of beliefs and preclude independent thought.
This is true of both sides of the political spectrum. In 2023, a study found consistent evidence that both Democrats and Republicans were more likely to believe and share news that reflected positively on their in-group or negatively on their out-group, regardless of whether the news was true.
What Groupthink Actually Does to Your Mind
Groupthink has been well-documented and researched over the years.
Derek Schaedig, in his article Groupthink: Definition, Signs, Examples, And How To Avoid It, explains that Groupthink is caused by group pressure, stereotyping of the opposition, strong directive leadership, high cohesion, self-censorship, and isolation from outside opinions — all conditions that actively suppress independent thinking.
Greg Lukianoff & Jonathan Haidt, in their book The Coddling of the American Mind, explain the tribal nature of Groupthink that makes it so influential:
“When the ‘tribe switch’ is activated, we bind ourselves more tightly to the group, we embrace and defend the group’s moral matrix, and we stop thinking for ourselves. A basic principle of moral psychology is that ‘morality binds and blinds,’ which is a useful trick for a group gearing up for a battle between ‘us’ and ‘them.'”
Can You Pass the Independent Thinker Test?
Most, if not all, of us view ourselves as open to new ideas and independent thinking.
But are we really?
Can you pass the independent thinker test?
Morgan Housel proposed this practical test in his article Pure Independence:
“If I can predict your views on one topic by hearing your views about another, unrelated topic, you are not thinking independently. Example: if your views on immigration allow someone to accurately predict your views on abortion and gun control, there’s a good chance you’re not thinking independently.”
A lack of independent thinking is also evident when we accept or reject statements based on whether the speaker is in our group. Derek Sivers writes in Useful Not True,
“Think of a famous person you despise, perhaps a politician or celebrity that represents everything wrong with the world. Now imagine hearing that person say something you really like. Hard to imagine, right? You’ve probably pre-decided that anything that comes out of that person’s mouth is going to be bad. No matter what they say, you’re against it in advance. Judging someone as good or bad instead of each individual idea as useful or not.”
I have to admit that I failed the independent thinker test. I estimate about 60%-70% predictability on major issues. This test helped me to understand how much groupthink influences me. I’m guessing I’m not alone, and that most people don’t score lower than 50%.
Three Things That Actually Loosen Groupthink’s Grip
How can we be more independent in our thinking?
The Medium Matters
Reading can be a lower-stakes arena for belief updating because the tribal signal of who’s saying it is likely to be absent, and there is no interpersonal conflict.
I deliberately avoid in-person discussion of controversial topics. I have an aversion to conflict, and I find it usually non-productive. There’s too much defensiveness and argumentation in personal discussions, too many other emotional issues involved.
There’s a good reason for the old adage about avoiding politics and religion at family gatherings. People tend to identify with their beliefs, and when you question those beliefs, they feel as though you are threatening their identity.
Therefore, reading is where I will actually engage with contrary ideas because the potential layer of personal conflict is gone.
My own strategy, therefore, isn’t personal confrontation; it’s reading and distance. You don’t have to argue with people. You just have to control what you expose yourself to.
Sometimes, Experience Beats Reasoning as the Change Mechanism
Independent thinking rarely comes from deliberate logical effort, according to researchers. “Myside bias” occurs when people “evaluate evidence, generate evidence, and test hypotheses in a manner biased towards their own prior opinions or attitudes.” It’s extremely difficult to reason yourself out of your strongly held views.
Rather than reasoning, independent thinking often comes from lived experience breaking through group consensus.
As a member of the United States Air Force, I spent years experiencing the military’s group medicine. As a result of my direct positive experience with a system that worked well, I override the ideological default I might have against government-run medicine.
Get Some Distance From the Group That You Belong To
Distance gives you the mechanism to escape.
I did a serious revisit and review of my Christian faith and beliefs after I retired. It was possible (and productive) because I’d spent 25 years outside of the Christian social ecosystem. I was able to think more independently about what I believe rather than what everyone around me believes.
The group doesn’t just tell you what to think. It maintains the thinking by keeping you inside the system.
Leave the system, and an independent evaluation becomes possible. Unfollow the political groups that send you a steady stream of memes that support the in-group and attack the out-group. Unsubscribe from blogs and media that push your group’s views.
Four Habits of a More Independent Thinker
There are things that we can do to help us to become more independent in our thinking:
- We can more often question the beliefs that we hold and critically think about them to the extent that’s possible. If some position seems “obvious” to you, it’s an indication that we need to do some more critical thinking about it. Why is it obviously true to me but not to other intelligent people?
- Don’t just buy into something because it supports your beliefs or vilifies the opposition. This is a real problem on social media, where a meme’s claim is accepted as true and passed on without investigation or verification.
- Don’t reject something just because it doesn’t fit with your group’s groupthink, or just because you don’t like or disagree with the speaker. Critically evaluate the statement on its own merits.
- Don’t accept something just because your group accepts it. Instead, try to encounter and critique each idea on its own merits.
The Test Worth Failing
I scored about 60%-70% on the predictable test. That’s not a reason for shame — it’s a starting point. The people who think they’re fully independent are usually the least aware of how much their group is doing the thinking for them.
So take the test yourself. Pick two unrelated topics and ask whether one of your views predicts the other. If it does, you’ve found exactly where to start paying closer attention. Independent thinking isn’t a trophy you win once; it’s a habit you practice, one belief at a time.
The next time you read something from a person you’ve already decided to dislike, try asking, “Is this true or a good idea?” instead of “Is this them?” You may be surprised how often the answer changes.
Choose your inputs deliberately. Read people you’re inclined to dismiss. Give yourself room from the groups that quietly decide what you’re allowed to believe.
You don’t have to convince anyone of anything. You just have to keep one part of your mind free enough to ask the next honest question.
Note: I wrote this blog post myself using my own words and thoughts for the initial draft. I used AI only to suggest headlines, section headings, images and text improvements.
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