Group cohesiveness provides bonding within a group as members work together toward common goals, but too much cohesion can weaken independent thought and result in groupthink where dissent is suppressed. When there is no conflict within a highly cohesive group, individuals are less critical and may make sloppy decisions as they seek agreement over challenging ideas. Symptoms of groupthink include unquestioned agreement, feelings of invulnerability, rationalizing problems, and developing negative views of outsiders. Strategies to prevent groupthink involve minimizing status differences, appointing a devil's advocate, and establishing norms allowing disagreement.