---
title: "Irving Janis: Groupthink Theorist | Model Diplomat"
description: "Irving Janis was an American psychologist known for coining 'groupthink,' a decision-making flaw in cohesive groups, impacting policy decisions."
url: "https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/glossary/irving-janis"
---

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Model Diplomat Research Team · Last reviewed June 22, 2026

TL;DR

- Irving Janis (1918–1990) was an American research psychologist at Yale University who coined and theorised "groupthink," the defective decision-making mode of cohesive groups.
- What is groupthink and who coined the term?
- Name the categories of groupthink symptoms identified by Janis.?
- Which case studies did Janis use to build the theory?
- What remedies did Janis recommend to prevent groupthink?

[Civil Service & Diplomatic Exams](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/civil-services/glossary)Updated June 22, 2026

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In his 1972 study, Irving Janis attributed the failed Bay of Pigs invasion of 1961 to groupthink within President Kennedy's advisory circle, which suppressed dissent and shared an illusion of invulnerability.

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