Josephine is sitting on a jury whose task is to decide whether or not to give the defendant a life sentence in prison.Most of the members of the jury feel the defendant can be rehabilitated and feel a twenty-year sentence would be appropriate.However,after listening to some of the members express their opinions about how detrimental prison life can be,the jury finally recommends a sentence of only ten years.In this case,which psychological principle may have shaped the opinion?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Group polarization occurs when a group's initial position is amplified after discussion, leading to a more extreme outcome. In this case, after discussing how detrimental prison life can be, the group shifted their initial decision from a twenty-year sentence to a ten-year sentence, which is a more extreme outcome in the direction of leniency.

Josephine Is Sitting on a Jury Whose Task Is to Decide