What term describes the phenomenon when a group becomes overly invested in maintaining the status quo?

The term that describes the phenomenon when a group becomes overly invested in maintaining the status quo is "groupthink." This concept refers to a psychological phenomenon where the desire for harmony or conformity in a group leads to irrational or dysfunctional decision-making. In groupthink situations, members prioritize consensus over critical thinking, which can result in a lack of creativity and the suppression of dissenting viewpoints. As a consequence, the group may continue with ineffective or detrimental practices simply because they are comfortable or familiar, ultimately hindering progress and innovation.

While group cohesion, therapeutic factors, and group dynamics are relevant concepts in group behavior, they do not specifically capture the essence of the pressure to maintain the status quo. Group cohesion refers to the bonds that hold a group together, therapeutic factors encompass elements that contribute to healing in a supportive environment, and group dynamics describes how group members interact and influence one another. None of these terms inherently indicate the risk of stagnation that is central to groupthink.