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
The Group (novel) (Liza Minnelli) can be seen clutching a copy of "The Group" when she departs the bus after her first encounter with love interest Jerry Payne. Mentioned in "A Right to Die" by Rex Stout: Nero Wolfe "had read two chapters and ditched it." In Season 1, episode 9 of "Gilmore Girls", Rory is seen reading a copy of the book as she stands on line to buy tickets to a dance. The Group (novel) The Group is the best-known novel of American writer Mary McCarthy. It made "New York Times" Best Seller list in 1963 and remained there for almost