Question 1

The effect that occurs when a group discussion strengthens a group's dominant point of view and produces a shift toward a more extreme decision is known as ​

Accepted Answer

Group polarization refers to the phenomenon where discussions within a group lead to an enhancement of the group's prevailing attitudes or opinions, often resulting in a shift toward more extreme positions.

Question 2

Maya has always preferred individual assignments to group projects because she finds that she can accomplish more when she works on her own. The process that would BEST explain why Maya accomplishes less when she works as part of a group is

Accepted Answer

Social loafing explains why individuals might accomplish less in a group setting because some members might exert less effort, assuming others will pick up the slack. This phenomenon can lead to decreased productivity for the group as a whole, which aligns with Maya's experience.

Question 3

Individuals' productivity typically _____ in larger groups, partly due to _____.

Accepted Answer

The phenomenon where individuals' productivity decreases in larger groups is often attributed to reduced efficiency due to coordination problems among group members, known as social loafing. This occurs because individual efforts can become less noticeable, leading to a decrease in individual accountability and effort.

Question 4

Which of the following is NOT a necessary component for describing or defining a group?

Accepted Answer

Cohesiveness is not a necessary component for simply describing or defining a group. A group can exist without members being cohesive, as cohesiveness refers to the strength of the relationships and bonds among group members, which can vary widely across different groups.

Question 5

Censoring dissent, pressuring to conform, omitting contradictory evidence, and polarizing ingroup and outgroup are basic features of which of the following?

Accepted Answer

These are characteristics of groupthink, 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. Group members try to minimize conflict and reach a consensus decision without critical evaluation of alternative viewpoints, often leading to detrimental outcomes.

Question 6

The NASA personnel who were in charge of the Space Shuttle launch had clear evidence that freezing temperatures could pose a problem for the Shuttle, but they chose to ignore the evidence and proceeded with the launch anyway. The process that would BEST explain why the launch went ahead, even though there was evidence that indicated it should be delayed, is ​

Accepted Answer

Groupthink is a psychological phenomenon that occurs within a group of people, where the desire for harmony or conformity in the group results in an irrational or dysfunctional decision-making outcome. In the context of the Space Shuttle launch, the decision to proceed despite clear evidence of potential danger can be attributed to groupthink, where the consensus to launch overrode the concerns about safety.

Question 7

When Stoner (1961) compared the average decision of a group's individual members against their group decision generated through group discussion, he found that

Accepted Answer

Stoner (1961) found that groups tend to make riskier decisions compared to the average of individual members' decisions before group discussion. This phenomenon is known as the "risky shift" effect.

Question 8

When the jury entered the jury room, most of the members thought that the defendant in the case was probably innocent, but some weren't certain. After discussing the case for four hours, all 12 jurors are now firmly convinced that the defendant did not commit the crime. The strengthening of the jurors' opinions following the group discussion is consistent with which of the following processes?

Accepted Answer

Group polarization refers to the phenomenon where after discussing an issue as a group, members of the group tend to adopt a more extreme position in the direction they were leaning towards initially. In this case, the jurors, who initially thought the defendant was probably innocent, became firmly convinced of the defendant's innocence after group discussion, illustrating group polarization.

Question 9

A group of six college students observe a fellow student stumble and fall down a flight of stairs. No one checks to see if the student needs help. Which of the following statements BEST illustrates diffusion of responsibility?

Accepted Answer

Diffusion of responsibility occurs when individuals in a group assume that someone else will take action, leading to inaction by all. Choice D directly reflects this concept, as it shows the individual assuming that others will help, thus they do not need to take action themselves.

Question 10

When Jerry thought he was the only person who was assigned the job of contacting alumni for a 15-year reunion, he spent several hours on the phone each evening trying to reach members of his graduating class. When he learned that eight other people were also working on contacting the alumni, he spent only 30 minutes each night making phone calls. The process that would BEST explain the decrease in Jerry's effort when he learned that he was working as part of a larger group is

Accepted Answer

The decrease in Jerry's effort upon learning he was part of a larger group is best explained by social loafing, which is the phenomenon where individuals exert less effort to achieve a goal when they work in a group than when they work alone.

Question 11

Which of the following is NOT a factor that reduces social loafing?

Accepted Answer

Social loafing tends to increase as the size of the group increases because individual efforts are more difficult to identify, leading to a decrease in individual accountability. The other options (B, C, D) are factors that can reduce social loafing.

Question 12

In terms of underlying causes, which of the following share the MOST overlap?

Accepted Answer

The bystander effect and social loafing both involve diffusion of responsibility. In the bystander effect, individuals are less likely to help a victim when other people are present, because they believe someone else will take action. In social loafing, individuals exert less effort when working in a group than when working alone, due to the perception that others will contribute. Both phenomena demonstrate how the presence of others can lead to a decrease in individual responsibility.

Question 13

Kirstie's boss asks for input about ways the company can improve its current advertising campaign. However, every time an employee offers a suggestion that differs from the plan that the boss has sketched out, the suggestion is ignored completely. In this case, the group that is supposed to improve the company's advertising will likely experience the effects of

Accepted Answer

Groupthink occurs when a group values harmony and coherence over accurate analysis and critical evaluation. It leads to poor decision-making because the group minimizes conflict and ignores realistic appraisals of alternatives. In this scenario, the boss's dismissal of differing opinions in favor of a preconceived plan is a classic sign of groupthink, where dissenting views are ignored to maintain the illusion of unanimity and cohesion.

Question 14

According to Janis, what is the major cause of groupthink?

Accepted Answer

The major cause of groupthink, as identified by Janis, is strong group cohesion. This can lead to a lack of critical thinking and decision-making because members prioritize harmony and consensus over realistic evaluations of alternatives.

Question 15

The decrease in individual effort exerted by group members when working together on a task is known as ​

Accepted Answer

Social loafing refers to the phenomenon where individuals exert less effort when working in a group compared to when they work alone. This is because the responsibility for the task is shared among all group members, leading some individuals to contribute less than they would if they were solely responsible.

Question 16

Bill is a subject in an experiment designed to imitate cheering at an athletic event and is asked to make as much noise as he can by cheering and clapping. Bill will probably make the LEAST noise if ​

Accepted Answer

The answer of Bill is a subject in an experiment...

Question 17

The group polarization effect implies that ​

Accepted Answer

The group polarization effect suggests that after discussing a topic, a group is likely to move to a more extreme position in the direction they were already leaning. If the group initially favors caution, discussion tends to make their decision even more cautious.

Question 18

Group cohesiveness refers to the

Accepted Answer

Group cohesiveness is defined as the strength of the bonds linking members to each other and to the group itself, which includes how much members like each other and are committed to staying in the group.

Question 19

According to Janis, the danger of groupthink is greater when the group

Accepted Answer

Groupthink is more likely to occur when a group works in isolation, as external opinions and dissenting views are less likely to penetrate the group's decision-making process, leading to more uniform but potentially flawed decisions.

Question 20

Groupthink is MORE likely when the group members

Accepted Answer

Groupthink is more likely to occur when group members are under pressure to make a major decision, as this can lead to a desire for conformity and a reduction in critical evaluation of alternatives.

Quiz 12: Social Behavior

The effect that occurs when a group discussion strengthens a group's dominant point of view and produces a shift toward a more extreme decision is known as

Maya has always preferred individual assignments to group projects because she finds that she can accomplish more when she works on her own. The process that would BEST explain why Maya accomplishes less when she works as part of a group is

Individuals' productivity typically _ in larger groups, partly due to _.

Which of the following is NOT a necessary component for describing or defining a group?

Censoring dissent, pressuring to conform, omitting contradictory evidence, and polarizing ingroup and outgroup are basic features of which of the following?

When Stoner (1961) compared the average decision of a group's individual members against their group decision generated through group discussion, he found that

A group of six college students observe a fellow student stumble and fall down a flight of stairs. No one checks to see if the student needs help. Which of the following statements BEST illustrates diffusion of responsibility?

Which of the following is NOT a factor that reduces social loafing?

In terms of underlying causes, which of the following share the MOST overlap?

According to Janis, what is the major cause of groupthink?

The decrease in individual effort exerted by group members when working together on a task is known as

Bill is a subject in an experiment designed to imitate cheering at an athletic event and is asked to make as much noise as he can by cheering and clapping. Bill will probably make the LEAST noise if

The group polarization effect implies that

Group cohesiveness refers to the

According to Janis, the danger of groupthink is greater when the group

Groupthink is MORE likely when the group members

Quiz 12: Social Behavior

The effect that occurs when a group discussion strengthens a group's dominant point of view and produces a shift toward a more extreme decision is known as ​

Maya has always preferred individual assignments to group projects because she finds that she can accomplish more when she works on her own. The process that would BEST explain why Maya accomplishes less when she works as part of a group is

Individuals' productivity typically _____ in larger groups, partly due to _____.

Which of the following is NOT a necessary component for describing or defining a group?

Censoring dissent, pressuring to conform, omitting contradictory evidence, and polarizing ingroup and outgroup are basic features of which of the following?

When Stoner (1961) compared the average decision of a group's individual members against their group decision generated through group discussion, he found that

A group of six college students observe a fellow student stumble and fall down a flight of stairs. No one checks to see if the student needs help. Which of the following statements BEST illustrates diffusion of responsibility?

Which of the following is NOT a factor that reduces social loafing?

In terms of underlying causes, which of the following share the MOST overlap?

According to Janis, what is the major cause of groupthink?

The decrease in individual effort exerted by group members when working together on a task is known as ​

Bill is a subject in an experiment designed to imitate cheering at an athletic event and is asked to make as much noise as he can by cheering and clapping. Bill will probably make the LEAST noise if ​

The group polarization effect implies that ​

Group cohesiveness refers to the

According to Janis, the danger of groupthink is greater when the group

Groupthink is MORE likely when the group members

The effect that occurs when a group discussion strengthens a group's dominant point of view and produces a shift toward a more extreme decision is known as

Individuals' productivity typically _ in larger groups, partly due to _.

The decrease in individual effort exerted by group members when working together on a task is known as

Bill is a subject in an experiment designed to imitate cheering at an athletic event and is asked to make as much noise as he can by cheering and clapping. Bill will probably make the LEAST noise if

The group polarization effect implies that