Question 1

In his classic studies of conformity,which of the following was NOT demonstrated?

Accepted Answer

While conformity to an authority was studied, there is no mention of it being determined by the authority's perceived referent power in Asch's classic studies.

Question 2

Which of the following recommendations would prevent groupthink?

Accepted Answer

Focusing on the facts without bias is the best way to prevent groupthink, as it encourages an objective evaluation of the situation and discourages the group from blindly following one another's opinions. The other choices may not necessarily prevent groupthink and may even contribute to it in some cases (A and B encourage subjective evaluation and personal biases, while D removes accountability and responsibility from the decision-making process).

Question 3

The core of groupthink involves

Accepted Answer

Groupthink involves misguided loyalty, in which group members are hesitant to "rock the boat" or question sloppy thinking, which leads to a lack of critical thinking and a rush to conform to group norms. This often results in poor decision-making and faulty group processes.

Question 4

To a large extent,the "groupthink" phenomenon described by Irving Janis can be considered a powerful example of

Accepted Answer

Groupthink is a phenomenon where group members prioritize harmony and consensus over critical thinking and independent decision-making. This often results in conformity pressures, where individuals may suppress their own dissenting opinions to avoid conflict with the group. Therefore, A) conformity pressures is the best choice to describe the groupthink phenomenon described by Irving Janis. The other options (B) group structures, C) social exchange effects, and D) proxemic indoctrination) are not as accurate in describing this phenomenon.

Question 5

Groupthink involves which of the following when applied to decision making in groups?

Accepted Answer

Groupthink involves the desire for group harmony and conformity that can lead to irrational decision-making. Social comparison and social facilitation also play a role in group decision-making but are not specific to groupthink. Obedience can also be a factor in certain situations but is not necessarily a defining characteristic of groupthink.

Question 6

Which of the following persons analyzed a series of disastrous decisions made by government officials and came to the conclusion that many such fiascoes are the result of groupthink?

Accepted Answer

Irving Janis is credited with coining the term "groupthink" and conducting extensive research on how it contributes to decision-making failures among government officials and other groups.

Question 7

A compulsion by decision makers to maintain each other's approval,even at the cost of critical thinking and good judgment,is called

Accepted Answer

Groupthink is a tendency of decision-making groups to strive for consensus and reach decisions without critically evaluating alternatives. This results in a lack of creativity, individual thinking, and sometimes poor decisions. Group members may want to maintain harmony and cohesion within the group and may suppress dissenting opinions to avoid conflict. This phenomenon is known as groupthink.

Question 8

Which one of the following suggestions for group leaders would NOT prevent groupthink?

Accepted Answer

Stating personal preference at the beginning of the meeting may contribute to groupthink by influencing others to conform to the leader's ideas. The other options encourage critical thinking and evaluation of decisions, which can prevent groupthink.

Question 9

The core of which of the following is misguided loyalty,in which group members are hesitant to "rock the boat" or question sloppy thinking?

Accepted Answer

Groupthink is characterized by a strong desire for group consensus, which can lead to a misguided loyalty that discourages group members from challenging each other's ideas or questioning assumptions. This can lead to a lack of critical thinking or consideration of alternative perspectives, potentially resulting in flawed decisions. The other options listed - the halo effect, cognitive dissonance, and compliance - all refer to different psychological phenomena that do not necessarily involve group dynamics or loyalty.

Question 10

In which of the following are group members hesitant to "rock the boat," question sloppy thinking,or tolerate alternative views with this self-censorship leading these group members to believe they agree more than they actually do?

Accepted Answer

Groupthink is the phenomenon in which members of a group prioritize harmony and conformity over critical thinking, often resulting in self-censorship and the suppression of alternative views. This can lead members to believe they agree more than they actually do, ultimately leading to flawed decision-making.

Question 11

In determining whether a person will conform to the group,which of the following factors is more important than the number of people in the group?

Accepted Answer

Unanimity refers to whether all members of the group are in agreement. Even if a group is small, if all members are unanimous in their beliefs or actions, an individual may be more likely to conform. On the other hand, a larger group may not exert as much social pressure if there is disagreement or inconsistency among members.

Question 12

The real danger of "groupthink" is that it

Accepted Answer

Groupthink can lead to a suspension of critical thinking because individuals in a group may prioritize agreeing with the group consensus over considering alternative ideas or questioning the group's decisions. This can result in poor decision-making and a lack of creativity and innovation within the group.

Question 13

In studies of conformity,it was demonstrated that

Accepted Answer

In studies of conformity, it was found that a lack of unanimity, such as having even one dissenting voice in a group, decreases the pressure to conform. Option A is not correct because the number of people who conformed did increase as the majority grew from two to three people. Option C is incorrect because conformity is primarily determined by social influence and not the level of power held by an authority figure.

Question 14

According to the text,which of the following is a recommended technique for overcoming groupthink?

Accepted Answer

Defining each member's role as a critical evaluator allows individuals to challenge assumptions and ideas presented within the group, reducing the likelihood of groupthink. Setting a time limit or postponing criticism may actually increase the pressure to conform and discourage constructive criticism, while having the leader state their position at the beginning may create bias in the discussion.

Question 15

In Paco's group,all three of the other members disagree with his idea for the spring festival.In Taurus's group,four out of five of the other members disagree with Taurus's idea,while in Margo's group,six out of eight group members disagree with her idea.Based on research findings,which person is most likely to conform to the majority group opinion?

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that individuals are more likely to conform to the majority group opinion when they are in a smaller minority, as Paco is. In larger minorities, individuals may feel more confident in their own opinion and therefore less likely to conform.

Question 16

Which of the following has been blamed as a contributing factor in the Columbia space shuttle disaster,the loss of the Mars Climate Orbiter,the invasion and occupation of Iraq,and at least 19 international crises?

Accepted Answer

Groupthink is a phenomenon where a group of people with similar backgrounds and opinions tend to make decisions without critically evaluating alternatives or considering the consequences. This can lead to catastrophic outcomes in situations like space shuttle missions, where the group's consensus may override dissenting opinions or crucial information. It has been blamed for the Columbia shuttle disaster, the loss of the Mars Climate Orbiter, and the invasion and occupation of Iraq, among others.

Question 17

In studies of conformity,it was demonstrated that

Accepted Answer

As the majority grows from two to three people, the pressure to conform increases significantly, demonstrating that group size can influence conformity.

Question 18

In the Asch experiment,when the subject was given an ally who also opposed the majority,the tendency to conform to the majority opinion

Accepted Answer

The presence of an ally who also opposed the majority decreased the tendency to conform to the majority opinion in the Asch experiment. This is because the ally provides social support and decreases the pressure to conform to the majority opinion. Therefore, participants were more likely to express their own opinions and resist conformity.

Question 19

When a small group of people will not tolerate alternative views and comes to maintain their own viewpoint due to misguided loyalty at the cost of critical thinking,this situation is referred to as

Accepted Answer

Groupthink is a situation where a small group of people comes to maintain their own viewpoint due to misguided loyalty at the cost of critical thinking. This can occur when members of the group are highly cohesive and place a high value on unanimity, leading them to suppress dissenting opinions and fail to consider alternative viewpoints. As a result, the group may make poor decisions, ignore important information, and fail to recognize their own biases.

Question 20

All of the following are strategies to prevent groupthink EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

Keeping the group small can actually contribute to groupthink because there is less diversity of opinions and perspectives. Therefore, the best strategy to prevent groupthink would be to encourage second-chance meetings to rethink important decisions. This allows for more time to evaluate the decision and consider alternative viewpoints. Additionally, stating the problem factually and making it clear that group members will be held accountable for decisions can also help prevent groupthink.

Quiz 16: B: Social Thinking and Social Influence

In his classic studies of conformity,which of the following was NOT demonstrated?

Which of the following recommendations would prevent groupthink?

The core of groupthink involves

To a large extent,the "groupthink" phenomenon described by Irving Janis can be considered a powerful example of

Groupthink involves which of the following when applied to decision making in groups?

Which of the following persons analyzed a series of disastrous decisions made by government officials and came to the conclusion that many such fiascoes are the result of groupthink?

A compulsion by decision makers to maintain each other's approval,even at the cost of critical thinking and good judgment,is called

Which one of the following suggestions for group leaders would NOT prevent groupthink?

The core of which of the following is misguided loyalty,in which group members are hesitant to "rock the boat" or question sloppy thinking?

In which of the following are group members hesitant to "rock the boat," question sloppy thinking,or tolerate alternative views with this self-censorship leading these group members to believe they agree more than they actually do?

In determining whether a person will conform to the group,which of the following factors is more important than the number of people in the group?

The real danger of "groupthink" is that it

In studies of conformity,it was demonstrated that

According to the text,which of the following is a recommended technique for overcoming groupthink?

Which of the following has been blamed as a contributing factor in the Columbia space shuttle disaster,the loss of the Mars Climate Orbiter,the invasion and occupation of Iraq,and at least 19 international crises?

In studies of conformity,it was demonstrated that

In the Asch experiment,when the subject was given an ally who also opposed the majority,the tendency to conform to the majority opinion

When a small group of people will not tolerate alternative views and comes to maintain their own viewpoint due to misguided loyalty at the cost of critical thinking,this situation is referred to as

All of the following are strategies to prevent groupthink EXCEPT