Question 1

NPR host Ira Glass conducts what he calls "pledge drive justice" in which he calls listeners who listen but never donate. The listeners agree to donate when Glass speaks with them personally. Why do you think they are willing to abandon diffusion of responsibility

Accepted Answer

When listeners are personally identified and called out by name by a famous person like Ira Glass, they may feel a sense of obligation to donate in order to uphold their reputation as a responsible and contributing member of society. This is known as social identity theory, where individuals are motivated to maintain a positive self-image in the eyes of others. The personal connection made with Glass may also make them feel more accountable, and therefore more likely to abandon diffusion of responsibility. The other options (A, C, D) may be contributing factors, but are not the primary reason for the willingness to donate.

Question 2

______ occurs when each individual in a group feels less responsible for the outcome, they think, "I don't need to take care of it . . . someone else will."

Accepted Answer

Diffusion of responsibility occurs when each individual in a group feels less responsible for the outcome and assumes that someone else will take care of it. This can lead to a lack of action or effort from all group members, as they believe that their individual contribution will not significantly impact the final outcome.

Question 3

Among college students, how likely diffusion of responsibility happens when students get to grade one another

Accepted Answer

The answer of Among college students, how likely diffusion of...

Question 4

______ occurs when lack of cooperation and communication weakens the group's effectiveness.

Accepted Answer

Coordination loss occurs when members of a group fail to work together effectively leading to decreased productivity and overall effectiveness. This can be caused by a lack of communication, unclear roles, or conflicting goals. Diffusion of responsibility, social loafing, and process loss are all related concepts but do not capture the specific issue of coordination loss.

Question 5

Paige is rude and inconsiderate. Her coworkers avoid working with her. Paige is high in which of the following personality traits

Accepted Answer

Agreeableness is a personality trait characterized by kindness, cooperation, and being sympathetic to others. Individuals low in agreeableness tend to be uncooperative, hostile and even aggressive towards others, which is what Paige exhibits.

Question 6

Paradoxically, you are less likely to get help in a large crowd than in a small one. The greater number of people makes which of the following more likely

Accepted Answer

The presence of a large number of people can lead to diffusion of responsibility, where individuals feel less personal responsibility to take action because they assume someone else will do it in a crowd. This can result in a decreased likelihood of individuals offering help in a large group. Social loafing (A) refers to individuals exerting less effort in a group setting, which is not the case here. Process loss (B) and coordination loss (D) can occur in both large and small groups and are not related to the specific issue of helping behavior.

Question 7

The committee barely went through half the proposed agenda because they were so busy gossiping. This is an example of ______.

Accepted Answer

Process loss occurs when a group fails to achieve its potential due to poor communication, ineffective procedures, or problems with decision-making. In this case, the committee was distracted and not following their agenda, resulting in process loss as they did not achieve their potential to discuss and complete all items on their agenda.

Question 8

Experts say that if you are hurt in a large crowd, you should pick a specific person and tell that person to call an ambulance rather than just yelling for help. Selecting a single person is intended to reduce which of the following

Accepted Answer

Selecting a single person to call an ambulance helps to reduce diffusion of responsibility, as everyone in the crowd may assume that someone else will take action and not feel individually responsible for helping.

Question 9

Dr. Kelly is a social psychologist who studies how men and women interact differently within groups. Dr. Kelly is studying what

Accepted Answer

Dr. Kelly's study focus on the interactions of men and women within groups, which falls under the domain of group dynamics.

Question 10

People are leaving a big festival and see a man lying on the sidewalk. No one stops to check on him. This is likely because of ______.

Accepted Answer

Diffusion of responsibility is the phenomenon in which individuals are less likely to take responsibility for action or inaction when others are present. In this case, since there are many people around, each individual might assume that someone else will check on the man and therefore not take action themselves. This effect is amplified in large groups, leading to a decrease in the likelihood that any individual will take action.

Question 11

People from which area are most likely to be social loafers

Accepted Answer

Social loafing, the phenomenon where individuals exert less effort when working in a group than when working alone, is more prevalent in individualistic cultures than in collectivist cultures. Canada, being more individualistic compared to the collectivist cultures of China, Japan, and Okinawa, is more likely to have people who exhibit social loafing.

Question 12

______ is a personality trait that includes a striving for achievement, attention to detail, and a sense of responsibility.

Accepted Answer

Conscientiousness includes qualities such as being organized, reliable, and responsible. This trait is also associated with high achievement and attention to detail, which suggests that individuals high in conscientiousness tend to plan ahead, set clear goals, and work diligently to achieve them.

Question 13

A personality trait that includes a willingness to be flexible, to cooperate, and to try to please other people is ______.

Accepted Answer

Agreeableness is the personality trait that includes a willingness to be flexible, to cooperate, and to try to please other people. Conscientiousness refers to being organized, responsible, and hardworking. Openness refers to being curious, creative, and open to new experiences. Extraversion refers to being outgoing, sociable, and energetic.

Question 14

A person who values discipline, honors commitments, and does a good job in any setting displays ______.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A person who values discipline, honors commitments,...

Question 15

People from which area are least likely to be social loafers

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that Japanese culture places a high emphasis on group harmony and collective success, leading to a lower likelihood of social loafing behaviors.

Question 16

These are naturally formed when social groups interact. They consist of the social roles, hierarchies, communication styles, and culture.

Accepted Answer

Group dynamics refer to the ways in which individuals within a group interact with one another, and how those interactions influence the overall functioning of the group. Group dynamics can include social roles, hierarchies, communication styles, and culture, all of which are naturally formed during social interaction. Therefore, option B is the correct answer. The other options refer to different types of leaders and do not relate to the concept of group dynamics.

Question 17

Why would the Justice league never suffer from a member who participates in social loafing or diffusion of responsibility

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why would the Justice league never suffer...

Question 18

Among college students, how likely diffusion of responsibility happens when the project is big or involves a large number of students

Accepted Answer

Diffusion of responsibility occurs when individuals feel less personally responsible for their actions in a group setting. When there are more people involved in a project, each individual may feel less accountable and assume someone else will take care of the task. Therefore, it is more likely to happen when the project involves a large number of students.

Question 19

A car slams into the guard rail on the shoulder of a busy highway. The driver is clearly hurt, but it takes several minutes before someone calls 911. What likely caused the delay

Accepted Answer

Diffusion of responsibility is the phenomenon in which people are less likely to take action or responsibility in emergency situations when others are present. This may have caused those who witnessed the accident to assume someone else would call for help, leading to a delay in calling 911.

Question 20

______ is the reduction of effort in group settings that comes from a lack of motivation.

Accepted Answer

The answer of ______ is the reduction of effort in...

Quiz 8: Group Processes