Question 1

Ethnocentrism can be reduced by:

Accepted Answer

The answer of Ethnocentrism can be reduced by:
...

Question 2

________ is a tendency for all people on a team or a mission together to agree with each other and suppress any dissension among their ranks.

Accepted Answer

Groupthink is the tendency for members of a group to conform to the prevailing opinion or attitudes of the group, even if they do not fully agree. This can lead to a lack of critical thinking and the suppression of dissenting opinions, ultimately resulting in poor decision-making. Conformity refers to adjusting one's beliefs or behaviors to fit in with a group, but it does not necessarily involve the suppression of diverse opinions. Consensus is when a group reaches agreement after discussion and negotiation, but it is not necessarily associated with the suppression of dissent. Deindividuation refers to individuals losing their sense of self-awareness and behaving in ways they would not otherwise. It is not directly related to group agreement and suppression of dissent.

Question 3

The members of Ike's fraternity think blindfolding the initiates and covering them with molasses is a great idea for pledging. Ike does not think this is a good idea, but he decides to keep quiet rather than offend his fraternity brothers and risk being ridiculed. This illustrates a symptom of:

Accepted Answer

Groupthink is a phenomenon in which the desire for harmony or conformity in a group results in an irrational or dysfunctional decision-making outcome. In this scenario, Ike is reluctant to express his disagreement with the group's plan in fear of rejection or ridicule. This behavior is a symptom of groupthink, where dissenting opinions are suppressed to maintain group harmony.

Question 4

The Robbers Cave experiment showed that:

Accepted Answer

The Robbers Cave experiment demonstrated that interdependence in reaching mutual goals reduces us-them hostility. The study involved two groups of boys who were initially hostile towards each other but became cooperative after being forced to work together towards a common goal. The other options (A, C, and D) involve activities that may foster positive interactions but do not necessarily address the root causes of intergroup hostility.

Question 5

The belief that your own culture or ethnic group is superior to all others appears to:

Accepted Answer

The belief in superiority of one's own culture or ethnic group can be found in various cultures around the world, making it a universal phenomenon.

Question 6

The part of a person's self-concept that is based on his or her identification with a nation, culture, or ethnic group or with gender or other roles in society is called:

Accepted Answer

Social identity is the part of a person's self-concept that is based on their identification with a particular nation, culture, ethnicity, or gender. It is how we perceive ourselves in relation to groups we belong to, and it shapes our beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors towards others who belong to different groups. The other options, ethnocentrism, fundamental attribution error, and self-serving bias, do not capture the concept of social identity as accurately.

Question 7

The belief that one's own ethnic group, nation, or religion is superior to all others is called:

Accepted Answer

The belief that one's own ethnic group, nation, or religion is superior to all others is called ethnocentrism. Option A, self-serving bias, is the tendency to overestimate our own skills and attributes while underestimating those of others. Option C, the fundamental attribution error, involves the tendency to explain others' behavior based on internal, dispositional factors while downplaying situational factors. Option D, entrapment, refers to the phenomenon where individuals continue to invest time or resources in a situation or decision that is failing because they have already invested so much time or resources.

Question 8

Which of the following is a sign of groupthink?

Accepted Answer

Groupthink is characterized by self-censorship, where members of a group minimize their own doubts and counterarguments in favor of consensus, often leading to poor decision-making.

Question 9

The belief that your own culture or ethnic group is superior to all others is called:

Accepted Answer

Ethnocentrism is the belief that one's own cultural or ethnic group is superior to all others. Acculturation refers to the process of adapting to a new culture, stereotyping is making assumptions about members of a group based on limited information, and ethnic separatism is the desire to maintain separation from other cultural or ethnic groups.

Question 10

When close-knit group members experience groupthink, it means that they tend to:

Accepted Answer

When group members experience groupthink, they tend to think alike and suppress disagreement in order to maintain harmony within the group. This can lead to flawed decision-making as alternative perspectives and solutions are not considered.

Question 11

The part of a person's self-concept that is based on identification with a nation, culture, group or gender is called:

Accepted Answer

The part of a person's self-concept that is based on identification with a nation, culture, group, or gender is called social identity. Social identity refers to a person's sense of self that is derived from the social categories or groups to which they belong. This sense of identity can influence a person's attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors, as they strive to maintain a positive self-concept and social identity.

Question 12

John knows and likes the Chinese minority in town, but he privately believes that Anglo culture is superior. This example illustrates:

Accepted Answer

This example illustrates ethnocentrism, which is the belief in the superiority of one's own culture compared to others. John may have positive attitudes and behaviors towards the Chinese minority, but his private belief that his own culture is superior still reflects ethnocentric thinking.

Question 13

When the leader of a close-knit group humiliates dissenters, then it is most likely that ________ is occurring.

Accepted Answer

This situation describes a potential example of groupthink, where the leader's power dynamics in the group create an environment where dissenting opinions are not tolerated, and the members of the group feel pressure to conform to the leader's perspective. This can lead to poor decision making and a lack of critical evaluation of alternative viewpoints. The other options do not fully capture this dynamic.

Question 14

Research on fundamental aspects of ethnocentrism shows that:

Accepted Answer

Research indicates that ethnocentrism is a universal phenomenon and can be based on any characteristic that distinguishes "us" from "them," not limited to dominant characteristics.

Question 15

Lucas is making his way across a busy campus between classes. He notices smoke coming from the side of the cafeteria but figures that someone already called the fire department. What phenomenon does this illustrate?

Accepted Answer

This scenario illustrates diffusion of responsibility, where individuals are less likely to take action in an emergency situation when in a group because they assume someone else has already taken responsibility.

Question 16

A group of officers fighting in Afghanistan must make an important military decision. Under what circumstances would groupthink be most likely to occur?

Accepted Answer

Groupthink is most likely to occur under conditions of high stress and pressure from outside forces, which can cause group members to prioritize maintaining group cohesiveness and harmony over making effective decisions. In this scenario, the officers fighting in Afghanistan are under pressure from external factors such as enemy attacks and the need to fulfill their military objectives, which can make them more susceptible to groupthink.

Question 17

Carlos and his work associates form a close, friendly group and they usually work well together. However, they may face a problem involving an extreme form of conformity called:

Accepted Answer

Groupthink is an extreme form of conformity where group members prioritize group consensus over critical thinking and individual opinions, often leading to poor decision-making or outcomes. This could potentially happen within Carlos and his work associates' close, friendly group if they prioritize maintaining the group harmony over challenging ideas or considering alternative perspectives.

Question 18

Imagine that you have been asked to diffuse the tension and conflict between two rival neighbourhood groups. If you were to apply Muzafer Sherif's findings in the Robbers Cave study to your situation, you would:

Accepted Answer

Muzafer Sherif's findings in the Robbers Cave study indicated that intergroup conflict can be reduced by engaging the groups in cooperative action in pursuit of shared goals. This can involve finding activities or projects that both groups can work on together in order to build trust and increase positive interactions. This approach fosters a sense of interdependence, and the groups may begin to see each other in more positive terms as they work towards a common goal. Therefore, option B is the best choice.

Question 19

Which of the following is NOT a sign of groupthink?

Accepted Answer

Weak leadership within the group may have negative consequences, but it is not a sign of groupthink. The other options are all signs of groupthink, including an illusion of invulnerability, self-censorship, and an illusion of unanimity. Groupthink occurs when a group prioritizes conformity and agreement over critical thinking and dissenting opinions.

Question 20

Groupthink can be counteracted by creating conditions that:

Accepted Answer

Groupthink is the tendency of a group to prioritize consensus over critical thinking, even if that means ignoring alternative ideas or viewpoints. By explicitly encouraging doubt and dissent, group members can be prompted to share their thoughts and concerns, which can help to mitigate groupthink. Choice A may exacerbate groupthink, as it reinforces strong leadership at the expense of individual perspectives. Choice B is also problematic, as prioritizing unanimity over thoughtful disagreement can result in the suppression of valuable insights. Choice D focuses on promoting cooperation, which is not necessarily incompatible with groupthink.

Quiz 8: Behaviour in Social and Cultural Context