The Abilene Paradox: Why People Choose to Conform Rather than Speak Up
Warren Dow
March 22, 2023
The Abilene Paradox is a phenomenon in which a group of people makes a unanimous decision that goes against their individual wishes and interests. It is a failure to manage agreement and is often a result of the pressure to conform in group decision-making. Today, this paradox is all around us, especially on social media platforms where members seek conformity at all costs, choosing to join the herd and acting against their own interests.