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social interest

in the individual psychology of Alfred Adler, communal feeling based on a recognition that people live in a social context; are an integral part of their family, community, humanity, and the cosmos itself; and have a natural aptitude for acquiring the skills and understanding necessary to solve social problems and to take socially affirmative action. Adler believed, however, that social interest is only partially inherent in adaptive development and needs to be actively cultivated in any individual.

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Psychology term of the day

May 9th 2024

groupthink

groupthink

n. a strong concurrence-seeking tendency that interferes with effective group decision making. Symptoms include apparent unanimity, illusions of invulnerability and moral correctness, biased perceptions of the outgroup, interpersonal pressure, self-censorship, and defective decision-making strategies. Causes are thought to include group cohesion and isolation, poor leadership, and the stress involved in making decisions. [identified by Irving L. Janis]