Question 1

Six people are competing in a tug-of-war competition.First,they compete as individuals,and then they compete as a team.It is observed that when they are competing as a team their combined effort level is less than the sum of their individual efforts.In the context of group influence,this reduction in effort when competing as a team is most likely due to the effect of:

Accepted Answer

Social loafing refers to the tendency for individuals to exert less effort when working in a group than when working individually. This phenomenon is often observed in situations where individual contributions are not easily identifiable or when individuals perceive that their efforts are not necessary for achieving the group's goals. Therefore, the reduction in effort observed when the individuals are competing as a team can be explained by social loafing.

Question 2

Madison and her friends have never been on a rollercoaster because they are afraid.On the school trip to Disney World however,they decide that if they get on the rollercoaster together,they will not be afraid.In the context of group decision making,their behavior best demonstrates:

Accepted Answer

The behavior of Madison and her friends is an example of risky shift, which refers to the tendency of a group to take more risks and make more extreme decisions than an individual would make alone. In this case, the group decision to ride the rollercoaster together is more extreme than what any one individual would have done on their own.

Question 3

Which of the following statements is true of the concept of risky shift?

Accepted Answer

Risky shift is the tendency for a group decision to be riskier than the average decision made by the individual group members. This is because group members, feeling the support of the group, are willing to take more risks than they would individually.

Question 4

The tendency of each person in a group to exert less effort in the group because of reduced accountability is known as _____.

Accepted Answer

Social loafing is the tendency of an individual in a group to exert less effort because of reduced accountability or shared responsibility. This phenomenon occurs due to the diffusion of responsibility among group members.

Question 5

In the context of group decision making,groupthink can be prevented by:

Accepted Answer

Selecting an impartial leader can prevent groupthink as they will ensure that all opinions and ideas are heard and considered. An impartial leader will prevent any biases and keep the group focused on the task at hand. Encouraging close-mindedness, isolating the group and members, and excluding outside experts can all contribute to groupthink.

Question 6

The solidification and further strengthening of an individual's position as a consequence of a group discussion or interaction is known as:

Accepted Answer

The group polarization effect refers to the phenomenon where group discussion or interaction results in the solidification and further strengthening of an individual's position, often resulting in a more extreme or polarized viewpoint than they held before. This effect occurs because individuals are exposed to persuasive arguments and evidence that support their initial beliefs and are less exposed to contradictory information. This leads to an amplification of the differences between group members' opinions. Groupthink refers to the suppression of dissenting opinions in a group in favor of maintaining harmony and coherence, while social loafing refers to the phenomenon where individuals exert less effort in a group setting than they would individually. The fundamental attribution error relates to the tendency to overemphasize dispositional explanations for behavior rather than situational factors.

Question 7

In the context of group decision making,the term risky shift is used to describe the tendency to:

Accepted Answer

Risky shift refers to the phenomenon where people tend to endorse more risky decisions when they are in a group rather than when they are making a decision individually. This is because in a group, individuals feel less responsible for the outcome of the decision and tend to go along with the prevailing opinion or the opinion of the group leader. Thus, they may take more risks than they would if they were making the decision on their own, which is why the answer is option D.

Question 8

Which of the following is true of majority and minority influence in a group?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is true of...

Question 9

A bicyclist claims that bicycle racing times would be faster if individuals raced in groups,because the knowledge of being in a group produces more energy to perform better.The bicyclist's claim is based on the concept of:

Accepted Answer

The bicyclist's claim is based on the concept of social facilitation, which suggests that individuals tend to perform better in the presence of others, especially when they are doing the same task or working towards the same goal. In this case, the knowledge of being in a group can produce more energy and motivation, which can lead to faster racing times.

Question 10

Michael is the new department head at his company.He expects everyone to agree with his restructuring plan for the department,and he publicly reprimands anyone who disagrees with his new policies.On the other hand,Michael praises department members for unanimity,cohesiveness,and harmony.In the context of group decision making,Michael is creating an atmosphere most conducive to:

Accepted Answer

Michael's behavior of expecting agreement without allowing for dissent and publicly reprimanding those who disagree encourages groupthink, which is a phenomenon where group members are more focused on maintaining group harmony than objectively evaluating alternatives. Groupthink can lead to poor decision making and lack of creativity in problem-solving.

Question 11

In the context of group decision making,which of the following is a symptom of groupthink?

Accepted Answer

Groupthink is a phenomenon in which group members prioritize conformity and unanimity over critical thinking and rational decision-making. Pressure for uniformity is a symptom of groupthink because it indicates that group members are more concerned with maintaining consensus than with carefully evaluating all available options. A willingness to hear all sides of an argument and a preference for accuracy over conformity are not symptoms of groupthink, as they suggest a healthy and thoughtful approach to decision-making. Underestimation of the power of a group may contribute to groupthink but is not a defining characteristic of it.

Question 12

One explanation for the effects of deindividuation in groups is that groups:

Accepted Answer

Deindividuation in groups often arises from the sense of anonymity one feels in the group, which can lead to reduced self-awareness and a diminished sense of personal responsibility.

Question 13

Which of the following is the best way to decrease social loafing?

Accepted Answer

Making each individual's contributions more unique helps to decrease social loafing by ensuring that each member feels their input is valuable and identifiable, thus increasing accountability and motivation.

Question 14

Jasmine believes that she is a poor basketball player,yet she plays with her friends whenever they ask her.Jasmine claims that when she is with her friends she feels like a different person and can play much better than when she practices on her own.Jasmine's change in ability when she is with her friends can best be attributed to the group influence phenomenon known as _____.

Accepted Answer

Social facilitation is the phenomenon where people tend to perform better on simple or well-practiced tasks in the presence of others. This is likely what is happening with Jasmine- when she plays with her friends, she is more hyped up and excited, which improves her performance on a task (basketball) that she is already familiar with. Deindividuation refers to a phenomenon where people lose their sense of individual identity and become more likely to engage in impulsive or risky behavior when they are part of a group. Social loafing refers to a phenomenon where people tend to contribute less effort to a group task than they would if they were working alone. Risky shift refers to the tendency for groups to make riskier decisions than individuals would make on their own. None of these phenomena are as directly related to the situation described in the question as social facilitation.

Question 15

In the context of intergroup relations,which of the following theories best explains why individuals like to think of their group as an in-group?

Accepted Answer

Social identity theory suggests that individuals prefer to view their group as an in-group in order to enhance their self-esteem and gain a sense of belonging. This theory emphasizes the importance of social categorization and identification in intergroup relations.

Question 16

Katie,who is moderately liberal,attends a very liberal college.According to the group polarization effect,after four years at this college,Katie is likely to become:

Accepted Answer

The group polarization effect suggests that when individuals with similar attitudes and beliefs gather in a group, their opinions and attitudes tend to become more extreme. Therefore, as Katie attends a very liberal college, her political views are likely to become more politically liberal over time due to exposure to diverse perspectives and discussions about social issues.

Question 17

Risky shift and group polarization are aspects of _____.

Accepted Answer

Risky shift and group polarization occur due to group decision making. Risky shift occurs when a group decision is more extreme than individual decisions, while group polarization occurs when a group's initial attitudes are amplified after discussion. These phenomena are related to the process of group decision making and how group interaction can shape individual attitudes and behavior.

Question 18

Mickey is a pop star.His fans observe that his live stage performances are better than his studio recorded songs.Mickey explains that he performs better on a live stage because the presence of the audience increases his enthusiasm to perform.Mickey's improved performance in the presence of an audience best illustrates the concept of:

Accepted Answer

Social facilitation is the phenomenon where the presence of an audience or other individuals improves an individual's performance on a task. As in Mickey's case, he performs better on a live stage due to the presence and energy of the audience. Social contagion refers to the spread of emotions, attitudes, and behaviors within a group or society. Groupthink is the tendency of a group to conform to a particular decision or viewpoint without critical evaluation. Deindividuation is the loss of self-awareness and restraint normally seen in a group setting.

Question 19

Dr.McCall found that student performance was poor when students worked in groups compared to when each student worked on an individual project.In the context of group influence,this difference in performance can be best explained with the concept of:

Accepted Answer

Social loafing is the tendency for individuals to exert less effort in a group setting than individually. This can lead to lower performance in group settings compared to individual settings.

Question 20

_____ refers to the impaired group decision making that occurs when making the right decision is less important than maintaining group harmony.

Accepted Answer

Groupthink is a phenomenon where group members prioritize maintaining group harmony over making the most rational decision. As a result, individuals may avoid presenting alternative viewpoints or challenging the status quo to avoid conflict, resulting in suboptimal decision-making.

Quiz 13: Social Psychology