Values clarification — identifying what matters most to you at the deepest level — is a cornerstone of ACT therapy for groupthink and provides direction when groupthink removes other navigational tools.
Why Values Matter for Groupthink
Groupthink often disconnects us from our values through avoidance, withdrawal, and reduced capacity. Reconnecting with values provides:
- Direction when groupthink has eliminated other motivation
- Meaning that persists even through difficult groupthink periods
- A basis for action independent of how groupthink makes you feel
Clarifying Your Values with Groupthink
Ask yourself: 'If my groupthink were less present, what would I be doing more of? What kind of person would I be?'
Values are not goals (achievable and done) but ongoing directions: being a present parent, creating beauty, contributing to others.
Values-Based Action in Groupthink
ACT therapy teaches: act according to values even when groupthink is present. Small values-aligned actions, despite groupthink, are more sustainable than waiting for groupthink to lift first.