Groupthink in The Crucible Essay

The Crucible takes place during the times of the Salem witch trials in Massachusetts. This was a time of much hypocrisy in the people of the town of Salem. Many people believed anything they heard or saw. Although The Crucible is fictitious, the story depicts the historical information of the Salem witch trials, and blends them with fictitious characters with minds of their own to create a very realistic plot and conflict in this story. Groupthink is found in The Crucible because the community experiences it by the eight main symptoms of groupthink, the consequences, and because it was so susceptible to groupthink.

One main symptom of groupthink is that the community of Salem experiences is the illusion of unanimity. When Parris found the group of girls dancing in the forest in the beginning of Act One, Abigail was the one who started the chaos in Salem when she first denied practicing witchcraft. Abigail has all of the girls on her side when it comes to accusing people of witchcraft. Whatever the girls say the people of Salem will believe them because they believe in what they hear. Abigail is also the self-appointed mindguard. In the end of Act three when Mary Warren is being testified at court she says Theyre sporting. They--/Abby, stop it!, the girls follow the lead of Abigail to make seem Mary is scheming with their mind. The actions held in Salem lead to many consequences.

The main end result of groupthink in The Crucible is that many innocent people die. Once one person accuses another person of being a witch it is difficult to prove you are innocent because everyone believes what is thought to be right. John Proctor is an example of a guiltless man being hung because of groupthink. Mary Warren betrays John by saying that he comes at by night and everyday to sign, to sign, to-- / My name, he want my name. Ill murder you, he says, if my wife hangs! We must go and overthrow the court, he says! John Proctor is then arrested and hung for practicing witchcraft. Anyone can be targeted with the power of lying.

Salem was susceptible to groupthink because people did not know how to stand up against any individual. The girls of Salem followed Abigail because they did not know what to do, and if they were to get caught they would have got in trouble for it. Also because the court system of Salem believes whatever the person says is true if they have other people to support them. Since Salem is dominated by Puritans, people will follow the mass as long as there is conformity.

Groupthink is phenomenal that can occur in the same environment. Members within a group cannot always distinguish between them. Facilitators and leaders must consider and take appropriate actions to avoid the groupthink while striving to achieve a consensus driven decision. This is especially important if the group is homogeneous and cohesive. Groupthink can easily be avoided with conformity.