Question 1

Which of the following individuals is most likely to experience normative influence?

Accepted Answer

Normative influence occurs when an individual conforms to gain acceptance or avoid social punishment. Mariel's strong identification with her university, Margot's experience of exclusion, and Mary's participation in a significant social ritual all suggest situations where normative influence is likely to be at play, as each individual may conform to perceived or explicit group norms to foster acceptance or inclusion.

Question 2

Which of the following statements provides an explanation for group polarization?

Accepted Answer

Group members may feel a need to conform to their group's view, and will therefore become more extreme in their views, in order to differentiate themselves from the out-group. This can lead to group polarization, where the group's view becomes more extreme than any individual member's original view. New arguments that support the group's position can be seen as novel and more persuasive, thus contributing to group polarization.

Question 3

When companies post fake positive reviews of their products online, they are hoping to harness the power of _______ to increase sales of their products.

Accepted Answer

Consensus refers to a general agreement or the perception thereof. When companies post fake positive reviews, they aim to create an illusion of widespread approval or consensus about their products, encouraging others to buy based on the perceived popularity and positive reception.

Question 4

Participants in a study by Axsom, Yates and Chaiken (1987) listened to a speech and then were asked whether they agreed with the arguments presented in the speech or not. While listening to the speech, half of the participants heard the audience applaud the speaker and half of the students heard mixed reaction (some cheers, some jeers) from the audience. In addition, some of the participants heard weak arguments and some heard strong. The results showed that:

Accepted Answer

When participants were not motivated to pay attention, they were influenced by peripheral cues like audience reaction, leading them to agree more when they heard cheers, even if the arguments were weak.

Question 5

According to your text, in which group is a consensus by the members likely to be the most persuasive to others?

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to your text, in which group...

Question 6

In a study by Wilder (1990), participants listened to the views of both in-group members and out-group members. Wilder found which of the following results?

Accepted Answer

The answer of In a study by Wilder (1990), participants...

Question 7

A recently-formed student group is trying to reach consensus on a group activity, but one of the members refuses to agree with the majority. According to the study by Schachter (1951), what is likely to happen in this case?

Accepted Answer

Schachter (1951) found that groups tend to engage in all of these behaviors towards a dissenter: they first try to persuade the dissenter to conform, if unsuccessful, they may ignore them, and as a last resort, they may try to exclude them from the group.

Question 8

When her teacher asks if anyone has any questions, Janice almost raises her hand to express her confusion, but then stops herself because no other students raise their hands. Janice assumes that she's the only student who doesn't understand the teacher. If other students also had questions but failed to raise their hands because of the same false assumption then this is an example of _________.

Accepted Answer

Pluralistic ignorance occurs when individuals in a group falsely assume that their private beliefs or behaviors are different from those of the rest of the group, resulting in a failure to take action or speak up. In this scenario, if other students also had questions but did not raise their hands because they assumed they were the only ones who were confused, then there is a case of pluralistic ignorance.

Question 9

Chris is the president of a car company and he is strongly encouraging members of his board to endorse more eco-friendly vehicles. If Chris puts a lot of pressure on the board members to reach a quick consensus on this issue, the group may fall prey to which social influence phenomenon?

Accepted Answer

Groupthink occurs when group members prioritize reaching a consensus over critically evaluating all options. In this situation, if Chris pressures the board members to quickly agree on endorsing eco-friendly vehicles, they may not fully consider all the potential consequences and drawbacks of such a decision.

Question 10

In a study by Strass and colleagues (1989), students were given different pieces of information about various candidates for student body president. Some of this information was shared among all of the students and some of this information was only shared with one student. The results of this study showed that:

Accepted Answer

The study found that students spent more time discussing information that was commonly shared among them, rather than the unique information held by only one person. This phenomenon highlights the tendency for groups to focus on shared information, potentially overlooking valuable unique insights.

Question 11

According to your text, why does superficial processing lead to more extreme decisions by group members?

Accepted Answer

Superficial processing leads to more extreme decisions because individuals want to align with the group and be perceived as committed members, often leading them to adopt more extreme positions.

Question 12

Which of the following statements about group polarization is TRUE?

Accepted Answer

Group polarization refers to the tendency of groups to make decisions that are more extreme than the initial inclination of its members, whether towards risk or caution. This phenomenon can occur in different contexts and through various modes of processing, including both superficial and systematic processing, making all the provided statements true.

Question 13

The group of people who we are most likely to use as a good source of information when making judgments are known as a(n) _______ group.

Accepted Answer

A reference group is a group of people who an individual uses as a standard for their own behavior, attitudes, and values. They can be friends, family, or any other group that the individual identifies with or is influenced by. When making judgments or decisions, individuals often turn to their reference group for guidance and validation. They do this because they believe that the opinions and behaviors of their reference group are relevant and important. As such, reference groups are a valuable source of information for individuals making judgments or decisions.

Question 14

Brandy is a Christian college students who is trying to decide where she stands on the abortion debate. With which group is Brandy most likely to consult for information about this issue?

Accepted Answer

Brandy is a Christian college student who is trying to decide her stance on the abortion debate. A group of Christian college students would be the best group for her to consult because they share her religious beliefs and may be able to provide guidance that aligns with her values. A group of college students, a group of female college students, and a group of adult community members may not have the same religious or moral perspectives as Brandy, which could make it difficult for her to get the information she needs to make an informed decision.

Question 15

The results of research on group membership and persuasion has shown that:

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that messages from in-group members can influence people, but often at a more superficial level. This is because in-group members are more likely to be viewed favorably and given the benefit of the doubt, even if their arguments are weak or unsupported. In other words, people may be more likely to agree with an in-group member simply because of their membership in that group, rather than the strength of the argument itself.

Question 16

How could a father use the reference group effect to encourage his young son to eat more vegetables?

Accepted Answer

The father should use the reference group effect by arranging for his son's vegetable-loving friends to come over and eat lunch. Children often look up to their peers and are more likely to adopt behaviors displayed by their friends. By having friends who enjoy eating vegetables, the son may be more motivated to try them himself. Option A is not as effective, as using guilt or the plight of others is not a positive reinforcement technique. Option C is also not recommended, as it can be too harsh and could create negative associations with vegetables.

Question 17

Agreement with the in-group fulfills which of the following motivational needs?

Accepted Answer

Agreement with the in-group fulfills the need for connectedness, valuing me and mine, and mastery.

Question 18

Research on jury decision-making shows that, more often than not, juries reach a final verdict that:

Accepted Answer

Research indicates that juries tend to reach a verdict that reflects the initial majority opinion among its members. This phenomenon is often due to the influence of group consensus and the persuasive power of the majority during deliberations.

Question 19

________ is the phenomenon in which a group's initial average position becomes more extreme following group interaction.

Accepted Answer

Group polarization is the phenomenon in which a group's initial average position becomes more extreme following group interaction. This means that the group members become more certain and committed to their original beliefs or attitudes, leading to a more polarized group consensus. False consensus refers to the tendency for individuals to overestimate the extent to which others share their beliefs or attitudes. Pluralistic ignorance occurs when individuals in a group privately disagree with the group's norms or values, but go along with them because they believe that others in the group agree with them. Groupthink refers to a mode of thinking in which group members prioritize group cohesion and consensus over critical thinking and decision-making.

Question 20

Members of a student senate are meeting to decide which speakers to bring to campus during the next school year. Before meeting, 2/3 of the students wanted to bring in a hypnotist, whereas 1/3 of the students wanted to bring in a comedian. The hypnotists usually charge about $100 per visit and the comedians usually charge about $150 per visit. According to work on group polarization, the student senate meeting should result in which of the following decisions?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Members of a student senate are meeting...

Quiz 9: Norms and Conformity