Question 1

The fact that people associate mostly with others whose attitudes are similar to their own suggests the prevalence of naturally occurring

Accepted Answer

Group polarization occurs when individuals within a group are more likely to adopt more extreme versions of the group's attitudes or beliefs. This can lead to a homogenization of attitudes within the group, where individuals who hold different attitudes may feel excluded or marginalized. The fact that people tend to associate with others who hold similar attitudes suggests that group polarization may be occurring, as individuals may seek out others who share their beliefs in order to reinforce and strengthen their own attitudes.

Question 2

The term "risky shift" was used to refer to the finding of

Accepted Answer

The term "risky shift" refers to the tendency for groups to make riskier decisions than individuals, as social influence within a group can lead to more extreme decisions.

Question 3

Investigations of the risky shift eventually led to the conclusion that this group phenomenon was really a tendency for group discussion to

Accepted Answer

The risky shift phenomenon results in group members making riskier decisions than they would have made individually, as group discussion tends to accentuate their initial leanings. This can be seen as a form of group polarization. The other options do not accurately describe the risky shift phenomenon.

Question 4

People who are made self-aware-by acting in front of a mirror or TV camera, for example-have been found to

Accepted Answer

When individuals are made self-aware by acting in front of a mirror or TV camera, they tend to behave more consistently with their attitudes. This is known as the self-awareness theory, which suggests that when individuals become self-aware, they are more likely to align their behavior with their attitudes and beliefs. This effect has been observed in various contexts, including political beliefs and health behaviors.

Question 5

Keisha, who usually votes for the NDP, is approached by a co-worker who tells her that he wants to talk to her about the upcoming election. Thinking that her co-worker may be campaigning for the Alliance Party, Keisha prepares to

Accepted Answer

Keisha's usual tendency is to vote for the NDP, so it makes sense for her to offer a strong statement of support for her chosen party. This way, she is not swayed by her co-worker's views and can stick to her own beliefs.

Question 6

The text suggests that the extremism of terrorist organizations is very likely the result of the naturally occurring process of

Accepted Answer

Group polarization occurs when individuals within a group become more extreme in their beliefs and actions after discussing them with like-minded individuals. In the context of terrorist organizations, group polarization may lead to more extreme and violent actions as members seek to prove their loyalty and commitment to the cause.

Question 7

In recognizing the dangers of becoming deindividuated, a parent's parting advice to a teenager setting off for a party may well be, "Have fun, and ________."

Accepted Answer

The advice to "remember who you are" reminds the teenager to maintain their sense of individuality and not get lost in the group mentality that can lead to deindividuation. It encourages them to stay true to their values and beliefs and not engage in risky or dangerous behavior simply because everyone else is doing it.

Question 8

John favours the death penalty. In discussing this issue with some like-minded classmates, he hears arguments for this position that he'd never considered before. After discussion, his opinion is more extreme. In this example, this outcome is best explained by

Accepted Answer

Informational influence processes involve the influence of others' opinions on an individual's beliefs and attitudes, particularly in situations where the individual is uncertain or lacks knowledge. In this case, John's discussion with his classmates likely provided him with new information and perspectives that he had not previously considered, leading to a more extreme opinion.

Question 9

According to Festinger, it is human nature to want to evaluate our opinions by

Accepted Answer

Festinger's theory of social comparison suggests that humans have a natural tendency to evaluate their opinions, abilities, and beliefs by comparing themselves to others. This means that we often seek out information from others in order to confirm or validate our own opinions.

Question 10

Your family is considering buying a new family car. Although it will be expensive, you really want the new car. Your parents like the idea, but they have doubts about the cost. What might you do to strengthen their attitudes toward buying a new car?

Accepted Answer

Suggesting a family discussion allows for all members to discuss concerns and potentially come up with a solution that satisfies everyone. This also shows that you value your parents' opinions and are willing to consider their doubts about the cost. Attempting to convince them individually or presenting strong counterarguments may come across as pushy or dismissive of their concerns.

Question 11

What underlying processes help to explain the occurrence of group polarization?

Accepted Answer

Group polarization is the phenomenon where group discussion leads to more extreme attitudes and behaviors. This can be explained by two underlying processes: informational influence and normative influence. Informational influence occurs when individuals in a group share their knowledge or experiences with others, leading to a more extreme group decision. Normative influence occurs when individuals in a group conform to the group norms or expectations, leading to a more extreme group decision as well. Both processes contribute to the occurrence of group polarization.

Question 12

Which of the following describes the accentuation phenomenon?

Accepted Answer

The accentuation phenomenon refers to the process by which initial differences among student groups become sharper and greater with more time in university, as individuals become more entrenched in their beliefs and opinions. This is often attributed to the socialization processes that occur in group settings, where individuals are rewarded for conforming to shared beliefs and values, and punished for deviating from them.

Question 13

Individuals who believe that physician-assisted suicide should be legalized meet to discuss the issue. Research on group interaction suggests that after discussion the individuals will be

Accepted Answer

Research on group interaction, such as the phenomenon known as group polarization, suggests that when individuals who already share a similar opinion on an issue discuss it among themselves, their views tend to become more extreme in the same direction. Therefore, individuals who initially believe that physician-assisted suicide should be legalized are likely to become even more convinced of their position after discussion.

Question 14

A gang is __________ dangerous __________ the sum of its individual parts.

Accepted Answer

This statement is comparing the danger of a gang to the danger of its individual members. The word "more" indicates that the danger of the gang as a whole is greater than the sum of its individual parts.

Question 15

Which of the following is an example of group polarization in one's community?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is an example...

Question 16

Email, search engines, and chat rooms make it easier for groups

Accepted Answer

Email, search engines, and chat rooms facilitate the gathering of like-minded individuals, the solidification of vague hostilities, and the organization of harmful actions by providing platforms for communication and mobilization.

Question 17

Group polarization occurs when group discussion _________ group members' initial inclinations.

Accepted Answer

Group polarization occurs when group discussion strengthens group members' initial inclinations. As group discussion and interaction occurs, individuals tend to become more extreme in their initial beliefs, opinions, and attitudes. This could be due to a number of factors, such as seeking social validation, or exposure to new arguments and evidence that reinforce pre-existing beliefs.

Question 18

Research on group polarization began with the erroneous conclusion that group discussion leads to

Accepted Answer

The initial research on group polarization focused on the idea that group discussion led to a "risky shift," where groups made riskier decisions than individuals would on their own. However, later research found that group polarization could also lead to more cautious or moderate decisions, depending on the initial attitudes of the group members. Groupthink and pluralistic ignorance are related concepts, but not specifically studied in the context of group polarization.

Question 19

In a neighbourhood dispute over a new zoning law, some of your neighbours think the change will be positive, but others are against it. After discussing the issue with your next-door neighbours, you feel much more strongly against the law than you did before. This can best be explained by

Accepted Answer

Group polarization refers to the phenomenon where a group of people who share similar beliefs and attitudes become more extreme in their positions after discussing the issue amongst themselves. In this case, after discussing the zoning law with like-minded neighbours, the person felt more strongly against the law. This is a classic example of group polarization.

Question 20

Evaluating one's opinion and abilities by comparing oneself to others is called

Accepted Answer

Social comparison involves evaluating oneself by comparing oneself to others. Options A and B refer to types of social influence, whereas option D pertains to the tendency for people to accentuate the differences between groups.

Quiz 7: Group Influence