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Adaline Billinger
Dr. Cheryl Duffy
ENG 446
17 Feb 2015
The Prison of Groupthink:
Apply Psychological Theory to Examples from Shirley Jacksons The Lottery
Imbedded in many childs memory is their mothers shrieking voice asking the age-old
question, If all of your friends jumped off of a bridge, would you? Even though many children
reply to this question with an exasperated sigh and a firm no, deep down in the dark crevices of
their mind, they may admit an urge to follow their companions off a bridge. As sickening of a
thought as that may be to some people, it is actually a perfectly normal reaction to a
psychological phenomenon called groupthink, a powerful force that has the ability to influence a
group to perform all types of behaviors. This theory was first developed in 1972 by Irving L.
Janis. During this time, he was reviewing political histories and he discovered a pattern present
that was prominent in his other research that dealt with group work. Janis noticed whenever a
difficult decision presents itself, the group members lost their individuality and gained a high
sense of solidarity. He defines groupthink to be a deterioration of mental efficiency, reality
testing, and moral judgment that results from in-group pressures. It has been shown to
contribute to several historical fiascos such as the Pearl Harbor bombings, Bay of Pigs, and the
Korean War (9). In order to avoid falling victim to groupthink, it is essential to recognize the
traits and understand why they occur. Shirley Jacksons short story The Lottery can be used as
an example of the controlling and horrifying effects that groupthink can have upon a society.

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In Jacksons story, which depicts a gruesome day in a small village where a woman is
stoned to death by her peers, it is the force of tradition that dictates the characters actions. By all
means, Jacksons town displays all the traits of a perfectly normal American town, until they
stone one of their own to death. The psychological phenomenon called groupthink could be used
as a suitable explanation for a puzzled reader. As stated before, Janis discovered this theory in the
early 1970s and created the name after the style of newspeak, a form of language George Orwell
presents in his novel 1984 (9). Janis writes in his book Victims of Groupthink how he was
reviewing the White Houses actions during the Bay of Pigs debacle and began to wonder
whether some kind of psychological contagion, similar to social conformity phenomena
observed in studies of small groups, had interfered with their mental alertness (iii). He then
suggested during a seminar that the poor decision-making performance of the men at those
White House meetings might be akin to the lapses in judgment of ordinary citizens who become
more concerned with retaining the approval of the fellow members of their work group than with
coming up with good solutions to the tasks at hand (iii). After some time, he developed a list of
the five characteristics of groupthink: high level of group cohesiveness, insulation of the group
members from opinions or information from outside the group, an inefficient procedure for
gathering and interpreting information, a high degree of stress along with a tendency to avoid
challenging the first acceptable alternative suggested by an influential member, and leadership
that is both directive and influential (Callaway and Esser 157). Even though Jackson composed
her story long before Janis developed his theory, elements of these traits are still prominent
throughout The Lottery.
The story begins with a great assembly in the town square with every family present. The
only ones that are missing are those who have some ailment restricting them. This gathering

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displays the first trait of a high level of group cohesiveness. Even though there does not appear to
be any consequence of not being in attendance, they all have an expectation for every member of
the community to be present. In his book, Janis believes that whenever a group displays high
cohesiveness, all the members express solidarity, mutual liking, and positive feelings attending
meetings and carrying out routine tasks of the group (4). Keeping this in mind, a reader would
be able to explain many of the characters actions. For instance, when everyone arrives to the
square, they greet each other cheerfully as though a cold-blooded murder is not about to occur.
The children are running and playing, the men are joking and chatting, and the women are
gossiping and smiling; all would seem well to an unsuspecting visitor. The reason these
townsfolk can act so relaxed is that they are feeling secure with their solidarity. They are all in
the lottery together and that conformity strengthens them.
Another example of high group cohesiveness would be everyones acceptance of their
role during the lottery and the general attitude they display. Mr. Summers has no problem being
the lottery conductor and appears to be so comfortable that he can stand with one hand resting
carelessly on the black boxas he talk[s] interminably to Mr. Graves and the Martins (Jackson
340). Janis explains that during the groups high level of cohesiveness, an illusion of
invulnerability, shared by most of all the members is created and allows the group to develop a
sense of optimism (197). Along with Mr. Summers nonchalant attitude, Old Man Warner
exhibits a sense of ease when he boasts to the crowd about the number of years he has been
participating in the lottery. Groupthink causes both of these men believe that they are
untouchable and have nothing to fear even though their fate rests inside a sinister black box.
Later on in the story, when Tessie Hutchinson is selected as that years scapegoat, people
are hastily grabbing their stones to complete their gruesome task. Men, women, and children

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expect to participate, and even Hutchinsons own children are given stones. When it was time for
their lethal duty,
they still remembered to use stones. The pile of stone the boys had made
earlier was ready; there were stones on the ground with the blowing scraps of
paper that had come out of the box. Mrs. Delacroix selected a stone so large she
had to pick it up with both hands and turned to Mrs. Dunbar. Come on, she said.
Hurry up. (343)
Without the assistance of groupthink, it is possible none of these people would have been able to
follow through with the stoning. Only as a group, could such a horrendous act take place. Janis
explains that even when the policy is working badly and has unintended consequences that
disturb the conscience of the members, their loyalty to that decision is their highest priority
(12). Until another proposition is made, which is a tricky process, the villagers will continue with
their outrageous ritual.
Along with their high level of cohesiveness, the village also appears isolated from outside
influences. The only time in the story that another place is mentioned is through idle gossip
between Mr. Adams and Warner. Adams mentions to Warner he heard that the north village is
thinking of giving up the lottery. Warner immediately shows his contempt and calls that village a
pack of crazy fools. In the story, he further exclaims:
Listening to the young folks, nothings good enough for them. Next thing you
know, theyll be wanting to go back to living in caves, nobody work any more,
live that way for a while. Used to be a saying about Lottery in June, corn be

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heavy soon. First thing you know, wed all be eating stewed chickweed and
acorns. Theres always been a lottery. (Jackson 341)
By including this conversation, Jackson shows her readers how ingrained the lottery is in this
community. No one ever mentions why a village would give up the lottery, and no one will likely
ever find out. Janis notes that often members of groupthink insulate themselves from outside
critics who threaten to disrupt the unity and esprit de corps of their group, and they will also
attempt to stifle anyone inside their group who try to question the groups norms (5). That would
explain why Warner reacts so negatively to the mere idea of giving up the lottery and to insure
that Adams would not pursue the subject, Warner belittles the idea as much as possible.
The third trait of groupthink that the village displays is inefficient procedure for gathering
and interpreting information. Even though the lottery appears to be widely supported by the
community, not a single person knows its origins. In the story, no one seems to know the proper
way to swear Summers in as the officiate, they recall there had been a recital of some sortbut
years and years ago this part of the ritual had been allowed to lapse (340). The community
members are not even sure of the origin of the box; they only know that it had been put into use
even before Old Man Warnerwas born (339). The only secure idea these people have to go off
of is the fact that the lottery occurs every year at the same time and place. Since all the members
of the town are equally ignorant of the history of the lottery, they can view each other as equals
and maintain their solidarity as a group. When studying groups, Janis believed that the more
insulated a cohesive groupbecomes, the greater are the chances that its policy decisions will be
products of groupthink (197). If the group allows outside influences to penetrate their
community, it is less likely for the group to follow one idea. Instead, with a variety of opinions,
the group would be given more options to decide from.

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Even though the village displays loyalty to their belief in the lottery and in each other, it
is impossible for them to not acknowledge the fear deep inside that they are gambling with their
lives. This fear brings up the fourth trait of groupthink, which is facing a high level of stress and
accepting the first decent solution suggested by a respected member of the group. Janis
acknowledges that group solidarity increases markedly whenever a collection of individuals
faces a common source of external stress, such as the threat of being injured or killed (5). As
mentioned before, the origins of the lottery are lost but the harsh reality of it still remains intact.
These people are participating in a dangerous sport where the loser truly does lose it all. When it
is time to start the lottery, a blanket of silence covers the town. Men become nervous as they take
their turns selecting a piece of paper from the black box and the day loses its previous holiday
feel.
Because of the villagers high stress levels and the need to follow through with the
lottery, they are willing to bring down any who oppose their idea. As discussed before, if any
deviant appears within the group, many will try to silence them. When Hutchinson is condemned
to die, she pleads to her companions for mercy. As she proclaims the unfairness of the lottery, a
rock strikes her head (Jackson 343). It does not matter anymore that Hutchinson is a respected
member of the community. Her attempts to escape her fate only condemns her in the villagers
eyes. She is no longer a wife, mother, or friend, but now only a cancer that needs removal.
Finally, the fifth trait, and probably the most important, is the role of leadership and
influence over the group. In 1985, Carrie Leana conducted a psychological experiment on 208
college students to determine how significant the role of the leader was on Janis groupthink
model. The students were sorted into small groups with only half of the groups assigned leaders.
They received various problems to solve and were allotted only twenty minutes to reach a final

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answer. In her research, she concludes that the groups with leaders were more likely to
experience groupthink than the leaderless ones (8-11). In order for groupthink to take its effect,
there needs to be a person or a factor that restricts the group from thinking as individuals. In
Jacksons story, the sense of tradition impedes the villagers from discarding their blood-soaked
lottery. While the origin of the lottery is unknown, the fact that it is allowed to continue for so
long let it morph into a tradition. It has become a tradition that rules over the surrounding
villages with an iron first. Even though this fist has been corroding throughout the years, its
influence on the townsfolk appears to remain. The sense of tradition influences them greatly in
their day-to-day lives. Summers casually suggests to replace the old shabby box with something
nicer, but no one like[s] to upset even as much tradition as was represented by the black box
(Jackson 339). No one wants to make the decision to update the tradition for fear of exclusion
from the group. Their fear to leave behind their traditions is much like a person who is reluctant
to leave the warm shower and endure the cold air.
To reinforce the traditions influence, a rhyme associates the prosperity of the towns
crops to the success of the lottery. Warner recites the rhyme Lottery in June, corn be heavy
soon to supply a reason why it is essential to maintain the lottery. The rhyme a fear that if the
lottery is to be discontinued, devastation and poverty would indeed follow.
Along with the rhyme, the support of the influential community members, such as
Summers, assists in preserving their tradition. Summers is presented to the readers as a
sympathetic character who cares deeply about giving back to his town. In the text, Summers is a
round-faced, jovial man who not only runs the local coal business but also has time and
energy to devote to civic activities (Jackson 339). It is apparent that Summers takes great pride
in his role for the lottery, as well. Right before the fiasco begins, Summers is completely calm.

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The text describes him to be very proper and important as he talk[s] interminably (Jackson
340). It is the power of tradition, the re-enforcement of the rhyme, and the charm of Summers
that pulls together Janis four other traits and confirms the towns fate as victims of groupthink.
Learning about groupthink and its five traits could make people cautious about joining
groups for fear that they too would fall under its spell. Luckily, Janis provides his readers with
three simple tips on how to experience a positive group experience. He suggests that leaders
should assign the role of critical evaluator to each member so that everyone can have the
opportunity to voice their own opinions. It is also crucial that the leaders should be impartial
instead of stating preferences and expectations at the outset. By doing so, the group can create
an atmosphere of open inquiry, thus allowing a flow of creativity. Finally, Janis suggests that
the group should routinely divide into smaller groups with different leaders to discuss and
evaluate group matters. This will insure the groups safety from insulation from challenging
information and independent judgments (209-11). From what the reader can deduce from
Jacksons story, collaboration and evaluation are not a common occurrence at the village, a fault
that proves to be devastatingly fatal for Hutchinson and countless others. If their leadership and
insulation from the outside could be challenged, the village could hope to escape its groupthink
prison.
To go against the group can be a distressing thought; often it is much easier to follow
along with the crowd. However, history has proven that the effects of this blind conformity can
be costly. Perhaps if people in the past felt more encouraged to voice their own opinions, the
Korean War, Bay of Pigs, and the stoning of Tessie Hutchinson would have been avoided. As
E.A. Bucchianeri once said, Its not unpatriotic to denounce an injustice committed on our
behalf, perhaps its the most patriotic thing we can do. By understanding the traits of

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groupthink, knowing how to avoid it, and acknowledging examples of it, groups should not
worry whether they inspire an annual sacrifice in their town square.

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Works Cited
Callaway, Michael R., and James K. Esser. "Groupthink: Effects of Cohesiveness and ProblemSolving Procedures on Group Decision Making." Social Behavior and Personality: An
International Journal 12.2 (1984): 157-64. Psychology and Behavioral Sciences
Collection. Web. 15 Feb. 2015.
Jackson, Shirley. "The Lottery." Writing about Literature. New York: Longman, 2010. 338-43.
Print.
Janis, Irving L. Victims of Groupthink: A Psychological Study of Foreign-Policy Decisions and
Fiascoes . Boston: Houghton, 1972. Print.
Leana, Carrie R. "A Partial Test of Janis' Groupthink Model: Effects of Group Cohesiveness and
Leader Behavior on Defective Decision Making." Journal of Management 11.1 (1983): 517. PsycINFO. Web. 16 Feb. 2015.