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Research on regressive group processes such as Janis' (1982) "groupthink" phenomenon has rarely focused on work groups in authentic settings. In this study, teams from six different organisations (n = 308) were studied by using a groupthink questionnaire constructed in accordance with the symptoms of groupthink described by Janis. It was hypothesised that groupthink could be described as a bipolar construct identifying either an omnipotent or a depressive variant of a group's delusions about its own and other groups' features. The questionnaire showed reasonably good reliability as a whole and a factor analysis identified three factors in line with the proposed theoretical model in which the two different types of groupthink can be distinguished. We propose that any group might have a tendency or predisposition to react in either of the two directions during provocative circumstances. The six different organisations exhibited different types of groupthink to a varying degree. A religious sect was the one most characterised by omnipotent groupthink, while a technological company and a psychiatric team seemed to be the ones with most features of depressive groupthink.

In this chapter, we introduce readers to the varied groups of psychotherapists who participated in our study. In doing this, we have two aims in mind. The first is to provide a context for understanding variations in responses to the questions posed in the Development of Psychotherapists Common Core Questionnaire. Psychotherapists share certain basic characteristics, but they also differ in many ways from one another. A detailed description of our therapists' varied characteristics will help readers 27

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In this study, group movements in different Christian communities were analysed by use of an expanded model of Janis ' (1972, 1982) concept groupthink . Much research in the psychology of religion has focused on individual differences. The focus of this study was on religious groups qua group, and processes that may influence their work and primary task. The groups studied were classified in one of three organisational clusters based on their way of organising work -ranging from more teamwork to more hierarchical oriented organisations. The results showed that there were considerable differences between different religious groups as to their groupthink tendencies, indicating that religiosity as such is not a sufficient explanation of group dynamics in such groups. However, the way of organising work may be an important factor for understanding groupthink tendencies. Another contribution was the application of the concept groupthink to rather ordinary religious groups. Groupthink has mainly been used to explain political, military or industrial fiascos. In this case the concept was applied to everyday life pointing to its explanatory value.