Question 1

Irving Janis identified a group with structural flaws that inhibit the flow of communication as one of the three major factors that contribute to groupthink..

Accepted Answer

Irving Janis did identify a group with structural flaws as one of the three major factors that contribute to groupthink.

Question 2

You can enhance group cohesiveness by using terms such as "I" and "my" instead of "we" and "our.".

Accepted Answer

Using terms such as "I" and "my" can actually decrease group cohesiveness as it emphasizes individuality over unity. Using "we" and "our" promotes a sense of shared identity and common goals among group members, which can strengthen group cohesiveness.

Question 3

You can reduce the chances of groupthink by following a formal decision-making procedure that encourages members to disagree and evaluate one another's ideas..

Accepted Answer

Encouraging disagreements and evaluation of different ideas, and following a formal decision-making procedure, helps to reduce the chances of groupthink where members may unconsciously conform to the group's decision without critical evaluation.

Question 4

The groupthink symptom of rationalization is illustrated in the following comment by a group member: "What do they expect-miracles? We didn't have enough time,members,or resources to solve this problem.".

Accepted Answer

The group member is rationalizing why the problem was not solved by making excuses about time, members, and resources. This is a common symptom of groupthink, where group members avoid considering other options and refuse to challenge the group's decisions or assumptions.

Question 5

Highly cohesive groups are at greater risk of succumbing to groupthink..

Accepted Answer

Highly cohesive groups tend to value harmony and agreement among members, which can lead to a desire for uniformity of thought and a reluctance to challenge the group consensus, potentially resulting in the phenomenon of groupthink.

Question 6

To avoid groupthink,you should discourage individual group members from working on the group's problem individually..

Accepted Answer

To avoid groupthink, you should encourage individual group members to work on the group's problem individually. This allows for diverse perspectives and prevents conformity.

Question 7

The groupthink symptom of mindguarding is illustrated in the following comment by a group member: "Let's not worry about the subcommittee report-they can't even correctly spell the name of the woman who did the research.".

Accepted Answer

Mindguarding refers to the suppression of dissenting viewpoints and the protection of the group from information that might disrupt consensus. The comment about the subcommittee's spelling error is more indicative of rationalization or stereotyping, rather than the act of protecting the group from dissenting opinions or negative information.

Question 8

The groupthink symptom of self-censorship is illustrated in the following comment by a group member: "I'm not crazy about this idea,but everyone else seems to think it's terrific.I guess I'll go along with the group and vote 'yes' when it's time to approve or disapprove the proposal.".

Accepted Answer

The comment demonstrates self-censorship, where the individual is hesitating to express their true opinion and is conforming to the group's view.

Question 9

Group cohesiveness is characterized by high levels of interaction and a friendly and supportive communication climate..

Accepted Answer

Group cohesiveness is indeed characterized by high levels of interaction and a friendly and supportive communication climate. When individuals in a group feel connected to each other and share a sense of belonging, they are more likely to work together effectively and achieve common goals.

Quiz 11: Planning and Conducting Meetings