Question 1

When groupthink occurs, there is extreme pressure to conform to the cohesive group; thus, people who may privately hold dissenting views tend to keep quiet, creating the __________.

Accepted Answer

The illusion of unanimity is created when people who hold dissenting views choose to keep quiet and not speak up, leading the group to believe that everyone agrees with the majority opinion. This illusion can reinforce groupthink and make it more difficult for individuals to express their true opinions. Option A (mindguard) refers to a member of the group who shields the group from dissenting opinions, while option C (illusion of invulnerability) refers to the group's belief that they are invincible and can do no wrong. Option D (transactive memory) refers to a group's ability to remember information as a collective rather than relying solely on individual memory.

Question 2

According to Irving Janis (1972, 1982), groupthink occurs when groups value __________ over __________.

Accepted Answer

According to Irving Janis, groupthink occurs when groups value cohesiveness and solidarity over a realistic consideration of the facts. This can lead to flawed decision-making due to pressures to conform within the group and a lack of critical evaluation of alternative perspectives.

Question 3

The phenomenon of groupthink is most likely to occur when a group is under stress, highly __________, and when the leader is very __________.

Accepted Answer

Groupthink occurs when group cohesion is high and there is pressure to conform to the group's norms and opinions. Stress can amplify this pressure, further increasing the likelihood of groupthink. Additionally, if the leader is highly directive, they may discourage dissent and encourage conformity, making groupthink more likely.

Question 4

President Kennedy's failure at the Bay of Pigs in Cuba is an example of __________.

Accepted Answer

The Bay of Pigs failure is often cited as a classic example of groupthink, where members of a cohesive group prioritize unanimous agreement and conformity over critical thinking and alternative ideas. In the case of the Bay of Pigs, President Kennedy and his advisors fell victim to groupthink by failing to adequately consider the risks and consequences of their plan to overthrow Fidel Castro's regime in Cuba.

Question 5

In describing his experiences during the decision-making process that preceded the disastrous Bay of Pigs invasion, Kennedy's adviser, Arthur Schlesinger, reported that although he was opposed to the invasion, he didn't speak out because "others would regard it as presumptuous of him, a college professor, to take issue with august heads of government institutions." This example best reflects __________ as a symptom of groupthink.

Accepted Answer

The example best reflects self-censorship in the interest of avoiding criticism, as Schlesinger refrained from speaking out because he feared being seen as presumptuous and potentially criticized by others in the group. This is a common symptom of groupthink, in which members of a group suppress their own dissenting opinions in order to maintain harmony and conformity within the group.

Question 6

__________ refers to the tendency for groups to make decisions that are more extreme than the initial inclinations of their individual members.

Accepted Answer

Group polarization occurs when group discussions lead individuals to conform to their initial inclinations and beliefs. As a result, group decisions often end up being more extreme, whether that means being more risky or more cautious, than the initial inclinations of individual members. Groupthink, on the other hand, is a phenomenon where group members prioritize group harmony over individual dissent, often leading to poor decision-making. The risky shift is a specific form of group polarization where groups make riskier decisions than individuals do. Negotiation, while important in decision-making, is not directly related to this particular phenomenon.

Question 7

When the committee discussion begins, three people are strongly in favor of hiring Band A to play at the fall dance and three people are somewhat in favor of hiring Band A. Two people are somewhat in favor of hiring Band B. If group polarization is at work, what is the most likely decision of the group after an hour of discussion?

Accepted Answer

Group polarization refers to the tendency for group discussion to lead to more extreme opinions and actions than those originally held by individual members. In this scenario, three people are strongly in favor of hiring Band A and three are somewhat in favor, so it is likely that discussion will lead to a more extreme endorsement of Band A. Additionally, only two people are somewhat in favor of hiring Band B, which may not be enough to sway the group's opinion. Therefore, the most likely decision is to hire Band A.

Question 8

You are a member of a team of detectives and police investigators who are trying to solve a crime. Based on information in your text about information sharing in groups, what would be the best way for your team to discuss the crime and solve it accurately?

Accepted Answer

Having each member be responsible for certain types of information allows for a more efficient and organized discussion, with each person contributing their expertise and knowledge in a specific area. This can prevent duplication of effort and ensure that all aspects of the crime are thoroughly examined.

Question 9

In their marriage, Marta is responsible for remembering family birthdays and when the bills are due, while Dave is responsible for making sure that the kids get to their sports team practices on time. The name for this particular type of sharing of responsibility is __________.

Accepted Answer

This particular type of sharing of responsibility is called transactive memory, which refers to the distribution of knowledge among members of a group or organization. In this case, Marta and Dave have divided the responsibilities based on their individual strengths and abilities, which is an example of transactive memory at work.

Question 10

Two different interpretations have been proposed to explain group polarization. The persuasive arguments interpretation is to __________ as the social comparison interpretation is to __________.

Accepted Answer

The persuasive arguments interpretation explains group polarization by suggesting that individuals become more extreme in their positions after being exposed to persuasive arguments (informational social influence), while the social comparison interpretation suggests that individuals shift their opinions to align more closely with what they perceive to be the norm of the group (normative social influence).

Question 11

When a member of Kennedy's cabinet expressed concern over the plan to invade Cuba, the attorney general (and Kennedy's brother) pulled the dissenter aside and told him to support Kennedy's decision. In this case, the attorney general was acting as a __________.

Accepted Answer

A mindguard is a member of a group who screens ideas and information to protect the group from negative or controversial information or viewpoints. In this case, the attorney general was trying to prevent dissent and protect the group's decision-making process by persuading the dissenter to support the plan. Politician, Machiavellian, and transactive leader do not accurately reflect the attorney general's role in this scenario.

Question 12

Group discussion often pushes people's initial individual decisions to the extreme, yielding group polarization. According to the persuasive arguments interpretation, this is because __________.

Accepted Answer

The persuasive arguments interpretation suggests that group polarization occurs because individuals are exposed to new arguments and perspectives that they hadn't considered, which can strengthen their initial leanings and push their decisions to the extreme.

Question 13

Jan is the leader of a cohesive "knowledge masters" group that is preparing to compete against teams from other colleges. To prevent groupthink and ensure that her group is successful, she should __________.

Accepted Answer

Inviting experts who are not members of the group to practice sessions and provide critical feedback can help prevent groupthink by introducing diverse perspectives and challenging the group's assumptions. Assessing group members' opinions frequently using show-of-hand voting may discourage dissenting views and lead to conformity. Creating a unified, cohesive membership may also lead to groupthink. Taking the group to a cabin in the mountains may reduce distractions but does not necessarily prevent groupthink.

Question 14

Which of the following statements is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

Groupthink is more likely to occur in environments where a strong directive leader imposes their opinions, as this can suppress dissenting viewpoints and critical thinking, leading to poor decision-making.

Question 15

Compared to individuals deciding alone, members of groups tend to make decisions that are __________.

Accepted Answer

Members of groups tend to make decisions that are more extreme due to a phenomenon known as group polarization. This means that after discussing an issue, the group's overall viewpoint tends to be more extreme in the same direction as the initial inclination of its members.

Question 16

You have been asked to organize a problem-solving meeting. Based on what you learned in social psychology, which of the following is NOT a good way to make sure unique information gets shared at the meeting?

Accepted Answer

Having a very forceful, directive leader can actually hinder the sharing of unique information, as individuals may be hesitant to speak up or share their ideas if they feel their opinions do not align with the leader's perspective. Encouraging open discussion and valuing diverse perspectives is a better approach for ensuring unique information is shared.

Question 17

The authors of your text cite the strategic disaster of the Bay of Pigs in 1961 as an example of __________.

Accepted Answer

The authors use the Bay of Pigs as an example of how groups of experts can make poor decisions, specifically due to groupthink and the lack of diverse perspectives.

Question 18

Which of the following is NOT something that could be done to guard against groupthink?

Accepted Answer

Rushing to make a decision could actually increase the likelihood of groupthink, as it may discourage members from raising concerns or alternative viewpoints. The other options - having an impartial leader, seeking outside opinions, and creating subgroups - all encourage diverse perspectives and can help mitigate the risk of groupthink.

Question 19

In order to avoid the phenomenon of groupthink, the leader of a group should __________.

Accepted Answer

By forming subgroups that discuss the problem separately, the leader can encourage the input of different perspectives and ideas, rather than relying on the opinions of the majority. This helps to avoid groupthink, where individuals may conform to the group's opinions to avoid conflict or maintain harmony. Encouraging diversity of thought and creating an environment where people feel comfortable expressing dissenting opinions can lead to more creative and effective solutions.

Question 20

Members of the school board were tentatively considering a proposal to institute the wearing of uniforms in the elementary and middle school grades. After their last meeting, they are now strongly in favor of the proposal. This illustrates the phenomenon known as __________.

Accepted Answer

Group polarization occurs when a group's decision becomes more extreme after group discussion. In this case, the initial tentative consideration of uniform wearing became a strong endorsement after discussion among the school board members, indicating the presence of group polarization. Groupthink is when group members prioritize consensus and harmony over critical thinking and individual opinions, deindividuation is the loss of self-awareness and self-restraint in group situations, and social facilitation is the tendency for people to perform better on simple or well-known tasks in the presence of others. None of these fully explain the phenomenon illustrated in the scenario.

Quiz 9: Group Processes: Influence in Social Groups

When groupthink occurs, there is extreme pressure to conform to the cohesive group; thus, people who may privately hold dissenting views tend to keep quiet, creating the __________.

According to Irving Janis (1972, 1982) , groupthink occurs when groups value over .

The phenomenon of groupthink is most likely to occur when a group is under stress, highly , and when the leader is very .

President Kennedy's failure at the Bay of Pigs in Cuba is an example of __________.

__________ refers to the tendency for groups to make decisions that are more extreme than the initial inclinations of their individual members.

You are a member of a team of detectives and police investigators who are trying to solve a crime. Based on information in your text about information sharing in groups, what would be the best way for your team to discuss the crime and solve it accurately?

In their marriage, Marta is responsible for remembering family birthdays and when the bills are due, while Dave is responsible for making sure that the kids get to their sports team practices on time. The name for this particular type of sharing of responsibility is __________.

Two different interpretations have been proposed to explain group polarization. The persuasive arguments interpretation is to as the social comparison interpretation is to .

When a member of Kennedy's cabinet expressed concern over the plan to invade Cuba, the attorney general (and Kennedy's brother) pulled the dissenter aside and told him to support Kennedy's decision. In this case, the attorney general was acting as a __________.

Group discussion often pushes people's initial individual decisions to the extreme, yielding group polarization. According to the persuasive arguments interpretation, this is because __________.

Jan is the leader of a cohesive "knowledge masters" group that is preparing to compete against teams from other colleges. To prevent groupthink and ensure that her group is successful, she should __________.

Which of the following statements is FALSE?

Compared to individuals deciding alone, members of groups tend to make decisions that are __________.

You have been asked to organize a problem-solving meeting. Based on what you learned in social psychology, which of the following is NOT a good way to make sure unique information gets shared at the meeting?

The authors of your text cite the strategic disaster of the Bay of Pigs in 1961 as an example of __________.

Which of the following is NOT something that could be done to guard against groupthink?

In order to avoid the phenomenon of groupthink, the leader of a group should __________.

Members of the school board were tentatively considering a proposal to institute the wearing of uniforms in the elementary and middle school grades. After their last meeting, they are now strongly in favor of the proposal. This illustrates the phenomenon known as __________.

Quiz 9: Group Processes: Influence in Social Groups

When groupthink occurs, there is extreme pressure to conform to the cohesive group; thus, people who may privately hold dissenting views tend to keep quiet, creating the __________.

According to Irving Janis (1972, 1982) , groupthink occurs when groups value __________ over __________.

The phenomenon of groupthink is most likely to occur when a group is under stress, highly __________, and when the leader is very __________.

President Kennedy's failure at the Bay of Pigs in Cuba is an example of __________.

__________ refers to the tendency for groups to make decisions that are more extreme than the initial inclinations of their individual members.

You are a member of a team of detectives and police investigators who are trying to solve a crime. Based on information in your text about information sharing in groups, what would be the best way for your team to discuss the crime and solve it accurately?

In their marriage, Marta is responsible for remembering family birthdays and when the bills are due, while Dave is responsible for making sure that the kids get to their sports team practices on time. The name for this particular type of sharing of responsibility is __________.

Two different interpretations have been proposed to explain group polarization. The persuasive arguments interpretation is to __________ as the social comparison interpretation is to __________.

When a member of Kennedy's cabinet expressed concern over the plan to invade Cuba, the attorney general (and Kennedy's brother) pulled the dissenter aside and told him to support Kennedy's decision. In this case, the attorney general was acting as a __________.

Group discussion often pushes people's initial individual decisions to the extreme, yielding group polarization. According to the persuasive arguments interpretation, this is because __________.

Jan is the leader of a cohesive "knowledge masters" group that is preparing to compete against teams from other colleges. To prevent groupthink and ensure that her group is successful, she should __________.

Which of the following statements is FALSE?

Compared to individuals deciding alone, members of groups tend to make decisions that are __________.

You have been asked to organize a problem-solving meeting. Based on what you learned in social psychology, which of the following is NOT a good way to make sure unique information gets shared at the meeting?

The authors of your text cite the strategic disaster of the Bay of Pigs in 1961 as an example of __________.

Which of the following is NOT something that could be done to guard against groupthink?

In order to avoid the phenomenon of groupthink, the leader of a group should __________.

Members of the school board were tentatively considering a proposal to institute the wearing of uniforms in the elementary and middle school grades. After their last meeting, they are now strongly in favor of the proposal. This illustrates the phenomenon known as __________.

According to Irving Janis (1972, 1982) , groupthink occurs when groups value over .

The phenomenon of groupthink is most likely to occur when a group is under stress, highly , and when the leader is very .

Two different interpretations have been proposed to explain group polarization. The persuasive arguments interpretation is to as the social comparison interpretation is to .