Abilene paradox

The Abilene paradox is a collective fallacy, in which a group of people collectively decide on a course of action that is counter to the preferences of most or all individuals in the group, while each individual believes it to be aligned with the preferences of most of the others. It involves a breakdown of group communication in which each member mistakenly believes that their own preferences are counter to the group's, and therefore does not raise objections. They even go so far as to state support for an outcome they do not want. A common phrase related to the Abilene paradox is a desire to not "rock the boat". As in groupthink, group members jointly decide on a course of action that they would not choose as individuals. However, in groupthink, individuals undergo self-deception and distortion of their own views (driven by, for example, not wanting to suffer in anticipation of a future they sense they cannot avoid by speaking out), whereas in the Abilene paradox, individuals are unable to perceive the views or preferences of others, or to manage an agreement.