Group Think and Transactive Memory

Group think, aside from allowing group members to reach consensus on decisions through minimal conflict without overanalyzing, simultaneously causes individuals to refrain from sharing their viewpoints for fear of looking unintelligent, embarrassing oneself, or challenging another group member. Because less input is offered, the cluster of people that employs group think typically forms illogical and impulsive thoughts, since they want to feel accepted and cooperative. Group think specifically applies to any instance in the context of gaming where there are distinguished teams with group leaders, because the tendency is to blindly follow the leader in hopes of satisfying the individual and serving as a team player. Just like the Challenger Space Shuttle or Bay of Pigs examples, the players on the team do not want to suggest anything negative or create any opposition with the powerful people in charge.

Transactive memory, which is a theory that delineates how individuals complement each other in groups by remembering different pieces of pertinent information, serves as an effective memory system because the several individuals act as aids to each other. Though it requires more complexity and planning, transactive memory will most likely prove highly beneficial, because individuals cannot retain as much information as a group of people, however small or large. This process also applies to the context of gaming with teams, because if, for example, a scavenger hunt is taking place, it is much easier for the team to memorize objects, know different locations, and remember certain pieces of information. If a team challenges an individual in a scavenger hunt, the team has the advantage of having more resources and will be correct the majority of the time. In a team, individuals only need to concentrate on a limited number of things and are responsible for much less information, whereas the individual can only rely on him or herself.