Abilene paradox attitudes towards them if they do not go along. This action-anxiety arises from what Harvey termed "negative fantasies"—unpleasant visualizations of what the group might say or do if individuals are honest about their opinions—when there is "real risk" of displeasure and negative consequences for not going along. The individual may experience "separation anxiety", fearing exclusion from the group. The theory is often used to help explain extremely poor group decisions, especially notions of the superiority of "rule by committee". For example, Harvey himself cited the Watergate scandal as a potential instance of the Abilene paradox in action. The Watergate scandal
Brownsville–Harlingen metropolitan area Brownsville–Harlingen metropolitan area The Brownsville–Harlingen Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of one county – Cameron – in the Rio Grande Valley region of South Texas, anchored by the cities of Brownsville and Harlingen.The 2012 U.S. Census Bureau estimate places the Brownsville–Harlingen metropolitan area population at 415,557 allotting it the eighth most populous metropolitan area in the state of Texas, it has recently been named the poorest city in the United States. The typical Brownsville-Harlingen, Texas household earns just $32,093 a year, or $21,564 less than the typical American household. The