Question 1

Overestimation by group members, closed-mindedness, and pressures toward uniformity all contribute in negatively affecting a group's ability to make good decisions.

Accepted Answer

These factors are characteristics of groupthink, which can lead to poor decision-making by suppressing dissenting opinions and critical thinking.

Question 2

A sociogram is a powerful tool because it can be used to document the direction and intensity of communication, as well as the content of what was communicated by the members in their attempt to influence one another.

Accepted Answer

A sociogram is used to map and analyze social relationships and interactions, focusing on the direction and intensity of connections, but it does not document the content of communication.

Question 3

Group members will continue with their association as long as the rewards (satisfaction of needs) outweigh or are equal to the costs of being a member, such as required time to participate, financial commitment.

Accepted Answer

This statement reflects the social exchange theory, which suggests that individuals maintain relationships as long as the perceived benefits outweigh the costs.

Question 4

Understanding the various members' roles is important to understanding the interactions that either push toward or hinder a group from meeting its goals, including member satisfaction with the interactions.

Accepted Answer

Understanding roles helps identify how each member contributes to or detracts from group dynamics and goal achievement, impacting overall satisfaction.

Question 5

Norms are powerful forces not only over the behavior of group members, but epecially in determining the size of the group.

Accepted Answer

Norms primarily influence the behavior and expectations of group members rather than determining the size of the group. Group size is typically influenced by other factors such as the group's purpose, goals, and resources.

Question 6

Groupthink refers to conditions under which efforts to maintain group harmony undermine critical thought and lead to poor decisions.

Accepted Answer

Groupthink occurs when the desire for consensus in a group leads to the suppression of dissenting viewpoints and critical analysis, often resulting in suboptimal or flawed decision-making.

Question 7

Conformity may improve a group's performance by increasing innovation and critical-thinking by the group's members.

Accepted Answer

Conformity often suppresses innovation and critical thinking as individuals may prioritize agreement and cohesion over expressing unique or dissenting ideas.

Question 8

&#34;Normative social influence&#34; is the term used to describe when we conform to what we believe to be the norms of the group in order to be accepted by its members.

Accepted Answer

Normative social influence refers to the influence of other people that leads us to conform in order to be liked and accepted by them, aligning with the group's norms.

Question 9

The functional roles individual group members assume in small-group interactions are:&#10;A) task, communicator, and decision-maker.&#10;B) communicator, decision-maker, and maintenance.&#10;C) task, maintenance, and individual.&#10;D) task, individual, and communicator.

Accepted Answer

The functional roles in small-group interactions are typically categorized as task roles, maintenance roles, and individual roles. Task roles focus on completing the group's objectives, maintenance roles focus on maintaining group cohesion, and individual roles focus on personal needs and goals.

Question 10

Cohesiveness of a group will increase if:&#10;A) the group hasn't experienced prior successes.&#10;B) admission into the group is more difficult to obtain due to various barriers or high criteria.&#10;C) members perceive that an internal force may prohibit the group from obtaining its goals.

Accepted Answer

When admission into a group is more difficult, it often increases the perceived value of the group, leading to greater commitment and cohesiveness among its members.

Deck 16: Overview of Group Dynamics