Question 1

Suedfeld and colleagues identified _______ as related to leadership ability among Canadian prime ministers and leaders.

Accepted Answer

Suedfeld and colleagues identified integrative complexity as related to leadership ability among Canadian prime ministers and leaders. Integrative complexity refers to the ability to consider multiple perspectives and reconcile diverse opinions and information when making decisions.

Question 2

Two different interpretations have been proposed to explain group polarization.The persuasive arguments interpretation is to _______ as the social comparison interpretation is to _______.

Accepted Answer

The persuasive arguments interpretation suggests that group polarization occurs because individuals are exposed to new arguments in favor of their pre-existing opinions, thus strengthening their stance (gaining information). The social comparison interpretation posits that individuals adjust their opinions to be more extreme in order to be liked or accepted by the group (being liked).

Question 3

Compared to individuals deciding alone,members of groups tend to make decisions that are

Accepted Answer

Members of groups tend to make more extreme decisions than individuals deciding alone. This is known as group polarization, where the initial attitudes of the group members become more extreme after group discussion.

Question 4

According to a social comparison interpretation,group polarization tends to occur because individuals can present themselves in a more _______ light by taking slightly more _______ positions than the norm of the group.

Accepted Answer

According to the social comparison interpretation, individuals tend to present themselves in a more positive light by taking slightly more extreme positions than the norm of the group. This is because individuals want to differentiate themselves from the average of the group and be seen as unique or exceptional. Therefore, choice A, which includes the terms "positive" and "extreme," is the best answer.

Question 5

Group discussion often pushes people's initial individual decisions to the extreme,yielding group polarization.According to the persuasive arguments interpretation,this is because

Accepted Answer

The answer of Group discussion often pushes people's initial individual...

Question 6

The phenomenon of groupthink is most likely to occur when a group is under stress,highly _______,and when the leader is very _______.

Accepted Answer

Groupthink is a phenomenon where a group strives for consensus and avoids conflict, resulting in faulty decision making. Cohesive groups are more susceptible to groupthink because members feel pressure to conform to the group's norms and values. A directive leader can also contribute to groupthink by providing strong guidance and discouraging divergent opinions. Additionally, high stress situations can exacerbate groupthink by increasing the desire for quick, unanimous decisions. Therefore, the most likely scenario for groupthink to occur is when a group is highly cohesive, under stress, and has a directive leader. Choice B best fits this description.

Question 7

In order to avoid the phenomenon of groupthink,the leader of a group should

Accepted Answer

Forming subgroups allows for a wider range of perspectives and ideas to be brought to the table, reducing the likelihood of groupthink where everyone agrees with each other and important viewpoints are overlooked. This allows for a more diverse array of solutions to be considered. Additionally, encouraging open communication and respectful dissent within the subgroup can also help prevent groupthink.

Question 8

Which of the following statements is true about groupthink?

Accepted Answer

Group cohesiveness is a necessary condition for groupthink, but it is not sufficient. Other conditions, such as a high degree of group insulation from outside viewpoints and a directive leader who discourages dissent, are also necessary for groupthink to occur. The other options are incorrect because they do not describe the characteristics of groupthink.

Question 9

_______ refers to the tendency for groups to make decisions that are more extreme than the initial inclinations of their individual members.

Accepted Answer

This phenomenon, known as group polarization, occurs due to a combination of informational and normative influences. Individuals are exposed to new arguments and ideas within the group discussion, leading them to shift towards the more extreme end of the spectrum. Normative pressures also come into play, as individuals may feel pressure to conform to the group's views and attitudes.

Question 10

"Mario is decisive,assertive,and yet will consider different points of view before making a decision.He would make an excellent chair of this committee." The previous quote reflects the application of the _______ theory of leadership.

Accepted Answer

The answer of "Mario is decisive,assertive,and yet will consider different...

Question 11

Which of the following has NOT been identified as a common characteristic of leaders,according to research presented in the text?

Accepted Answer

According to research presented in the text, leaders tend to have higher levels of intelligence, social skills, extroversion, and openness to new experiences. However, there is no evidence to suggest that leaders are inherently more ruthless than non-leaders.

Question 12

"Who would make a great president? Someone who is uncompromisingly true to her (or his)values,assertive,intelligent,articulate,courageous,and passionate,that's who." The previous quote reflects the application of the _______ theory of leadership.

Accepted Answer

The quote reflects the great person theory of leadership, which suggests that effective leaders possess intrinsic traits such as intelligence, courage, and passion. This theory focuses on the qualities and personal characteristics that make a leader effective, rather than the situational factors or democratic processes.

Question 13

__________ leaders set clear,short-term goals and reward followers who meet them; __________ leaders inspire followers to focus on common long-term goals.

Accepted Answer

The first blank refers to transactional leadership, where leaders set clear, short-term goals and reward followers who achieve them. The second blank refers to transformational leadership, where leaders inspire followers to focus on common long-term goals. Therefore, the best choice is C, where the first blank is filled with transactional and the second blank is filled with transformational.

Question 14

Nan had pretty much made up her mind before a group discussion.During the discussion,however,she thinks to herself,"I think I'll hang back and see how the others feel about it.I don't want them to think I'm nuts or anything." Nan's thoughts best reflect the _______ interpretation of group polarization.

Accepted Answer

Nan's thoughts reflect the social comparison interpretation of group polarization, where individuals adjust their opinions to align with the perceived group norm to be accepted or to avoid being judged negatively by others.

Question 15

Ted is a manager who effectively motivates his employees to complete their short-term projects in a timely manner without sacrificing quality.Ted always rewards the employees who meet these goals.Ted has a__________ leadership style.

Accepted Answer

Ted's leadership style is transactional, as he motivates his employees through rewards and incentives for meeting short-term goals. Paternalistic leaders tend to have a paternalistic approach, where they act as a father figure and make decisions for their employees. Relationship-oriented leaders focus on building strong personal relationships with their employees. Transformational leaders inspire and motivate their employees to reach their full potential. Communal leaders focus on promoting the well-being of the community as a whole.

Question 16

Proponents of the _______ theory of leadership assume that certain key personality traits (e.g.,decisiveness,intelligence,compassion)make someone a good leader.

Accepted Answer

The great person theory of leadership assumes that certain innate qualities distinguish great leaders from others. These qualities include intelligence, decisiveness, and compassion.

Question 17

Jennifer is the leader of a college student group whose goal is to steal the mascot of a rival university the week before the big football game.In planning the heist,Jennifer should _______ to prevent groupthink and ensure that her group is successful in devising the best possible plan.

Accepted Answer

Seeking the opinions of trustworthy nongroup members can introduce fresh perspectives and prevent the group from becoming too insular, which can lead to groupthink. This approach encourages the consideration of alternative strategies and viewpoints, enhancing the planning process.

Question 18

Early studies of group decision-making demonstrated that groups made riskier decisions than individuals do.The concept of "risky shift" was born.Later studies,however,revealed that group decisions are not necessarily more risky than individual decisions; instead,they are more extreme.The concept of _______ was born.

Accepted Answer

Group polarization describes the phenomenon where a group's attitudes or decisions become more extreme than those of its individual members. This occurs because group discussion tends to reinforce preexisting attitudes and beliefs, leading individuals to adopt more extreme positions. It is different from risky shift, which specifically refers to groups making riskier decisions than individuals.

Question 19

Which of the following is NOT an antecedent of groupthink?

Accepted Answer

Groupthink is a psychological phenomenon that occurs within a group of people in which the desire for harmony or conformity in the group results in an irrational or dysfunctional decision-making outcome. The antecedents of groupthink include high cohesiveness, group isolation, directive leadership, and high stress, but not social roles. Social roles relate to the expected behavior patterns attributed to someone occupying a given position in a social unit, which does not directly contribute to the occurrence of groupthink.

Question 20

The text suggests that the Meech Lake Accord failed because the entire process was negatively affected by groupthink.Which of the following factors was NOT an issue that contributed to groupthink?

Accepted Answer

Stress is not directly a factor that contributes to groupthink; rather, it's the conditions such as isolation of the group, lack of impartial leadership, and lack of methodical procedures for evaluating alternatives that foster groupthink.

Quiz 8: Group Processes

Suedfeld and colleagues identified _______ as related to leadership ability among Canadian prime ministers and leaders.

Two different interpretations have been proposed to explain group polarization.The persuasive arguments interpretation is to _ as the social comparison interpretation is to _.

Compared to individuals deciding alone,members of groups tend to make decisions that are

According to a social comparison interpretation,group polarization tends to occur because individuals can present themselves in a more _ light by taking slightly more _ positions than the norm of the group.