I previously did not have any knowledge of Jim Jones and Jonestown (which may be bad sorry) so I was very shocked at the whole podcast. The beginning was even alarming because the hosts were talking about how he started out with a bunch of good things but kept alluding to later in the podcast when we would find out some of the not so good acts he and his followers committed. I find it interesting how they mention the followers rationalizing Jones’ actions because they were just already so invested in him and that they didn’t really know anything else because they were so deep into his beliefs. This reminds me of parts of the groupthink where the other people may rationalize unrealistic dangers because they just didn’t see the enemy as an actual threat.
I guess I am surprised at how not more than those twenty people did not want to defect, especially after they weren’t really “allowed” to go back to America and then when the congressmen was assassinated but okay. The contradictions he used when he would go against The Bible but also quote scripture would be a major sign of crazy to me if someone tried to start this kind of church based on these aspects and it wasn’t even THAT long ago and that’s terrifying. Also how he admired Hitler that’s major weirdo stuff.
I think your comparison with Jonestown and groupthink is incredibly accurate and answers your questions about how only 20 people would want to dissent from the congregation. Groupthink smothers an individuals inner-processes that would allow them to consider dissenting in the first place.
I agree with Leah however I do see where you got that idea from. Groupthink doesn’t allow for dissent to occur because there is no outlet for people to express alternatives when they are under the influence of groupthink. It is possible however that others were under groupthink but it is not certain.
I also had no idea about this situation before this class, and was also quite shocked. I agree with the idea of groupthink, and i think that this concept was in play during this situation. I think the rationalization is done when someone else has no idea of how bad the situation their in is.
Jonestown definitely ties into groupthink and, gosh, it’s really scary! Like it’s one thing with JFK and the Bay of Pigs (and, I know that got people killed too, but at least they were trying to accomplish something); JFK made a pretty substantial oopsie. But Jones? That’s psycho stuff, all malicious intent and nothing else. He had children killed drinking cyannaid (cyan-ade?) in front of their parents! Too twisted. The podcast mentioned that survivors felt like they were “a part of something” and that the feeling of that was wonderful. I really wonder how anything can make you that blind, but ig that’s psychology for ya.