Question 1

The extremism of terrorist organizations,such as those involved in the September 11 attacks on the United States,is very likely the result of the naturally occurring process of:

Accepted Answer

Group polarization is the process where group discussion leads to a more extreme view than what any individual member initially held. In the case of terrorist organizations, group polarization is likely to occur as members reinforce each other's extreme ideas, leading to an even more extreme group ideology and actions such as the September 11 attacks.

Question 2

Social comparison is more likely to sway responses on:

Accepted Answer

Social comparison is more likely to have an impact on value-laden judgments, which involves subjective evaluations of things, people, events, or situations. Factual issues, moderate or severe issues, and complex or simple issues, on the other hand, are less subjective and rely more on objective evidence or data. Therefore, social comparison is less likely to sway responses on these types of issues.

Question 3

Julio is a directive leader of a highly cohesive student group on campus.When discussing important policy decisions,the group will be at greatest risk for groupthink if it is:

Accepted Answer

Groupthink occurs when a group is highly cohesive, isolated from dissenting viewpoints, and under pressure to make a decision. In this scenario, Julio's student group is already highly cohesive, and if they are also isolated from dissenting viewpoints, they are at a greater risk of groupthink. Being well-informed about both sides of the issue, composed of majority and minority students, or aware of the dangers of making wrong decisions may actually help to prevent groupthink.

Question 4

Which of the following comments is most likely to be made in a group characterized by groupthink?

Accepted Answer

In a group characterized by groupthink, the members tend to have strong conformity to the group's beliefs and are hesitant to express dissenting opinions or challenge the group's decisions. Option A suggests that the group has a history of agreement, which may perpetuate a lack of critical evaluation and reinforce conformity.

Question 5

Groupthink can be defined as:

Accepted Answer

Groupthink is a phenomenon where group members prioritize maintaining group harmony and conformity over critical evaluation of ideas or alternative viewpoints. This often results in the suppression of dissent and the acceptance of flawed decisions. Option A accurately describes this phenomenon.

Question 6

Groupthink symptoms can be viewed as a form of dissonance reduction as group members:

Accepted Answer

Groupthink is a phenomenon where group members prioritize maintaining positive group feelings over making rational decisions. This leads to a reduction in dissonance or conflict within the group. Group members may avoid challenging the group's prevailing ideas, ignore or discourage dissenting opinions, and downplay information that contradicts the group's views. These symptoms serve to maintain the group's cohesiveness and harmony, which reduces dissonance.

Question 7

Maggie favors the death penalty.In discussing this issue with some like-minded classmates,she hears arguments for this position that she has never considered before.After the discussion,her opinion is more extreme.This outcome is best explained by:

Accepted Answer

Informational influence refers to the phenomenon where one's opinions or beliefs are influenced by the information or opinions of others. In this case, Maggie's like-minded classmates presented her with new arguments in favor of the death penalty that she had not considered before, leading her to adopt a more extreme opinion. This is an example of informational influence.

Question 8

According to Festinger (1954),it is human nature to want to evaluate our opinions by:

Accepted Answer

Festinger (1954) states that humans have a tendency to evaluate their opinions by comparing them with those of others. This process is known as social comparison and plays a significant role in shaping our beliefs and attitudes. Therefore, option A is the best choice. Options B, C, and D are not supported by Festinger's theory.

Question 9

Wright (2003)suggested that the Internet is an effective means to rally like-minded people and mobilize lethal consequences,such as recruiting individuals for terror organizations.Which concept in social psychology best explains this trend?

Accepted Answer

Group polarization refers to the tendency of individuals to adopt extreme attitudes and beliefs when in a group with similar opinions. In the context of the Internet, individuals who already hold extreme beliefs can connect with others who share those beliefs, forming a group that reinforces and amplifies their views. This can lead to the radicalization and mobilization of individuals towards violent or extreme actions, such as joining a terror organization.

Question 10

Which of the following leads to group polarization?

Accepted Answer

Group polarization is the phenomenon when group decision-making leads to more extreme decisions than the individual members would make on their own. Informational influence is a factor that can lead to group polarization, as people tend to seek out and be influenced by information that confirms their pre-existing beliefs and attitudes. This can lead to group members becoming more extreme in their views as they discuss and reinforce their shared beliefs. Social loafing and social facilitation are not related to group polarization, and minority influence may have a moderating effect on group polarization but does not necessarily lead to it.

Question 11

You are hesitant to ask questions in class because you assume everyone else understands,and you would,therefore,appear foolish in the class.Your thinking best exemplifies:

Accepted Answer

This thinking best exemplifies pluralistic ignorance, where individuals assume that others understand a situation or have knowledge that they do not, leading to a lack of action or questioning. This can lead to a collective misunderstanding and reinforces the mistaken belief that no one has any questions or doubts.

Question 12

Evaluating one's opinions and abilities by comparing oneself with others is called:

Accepted Answer

Social comparison is the process of evaluating one's opinions, abilities, and behaviors by comparing oneself with others. It can be used as a way to validate one's own opinions or to improve self-esteem by comparing oneself to others who are less successful, but it can also lead to negative effects such as envy or discouragement when comparing oneself to others who are more successful.

Question 13

The fact that active participation in discussion produces more attitude change is best explained by:

Accepted Answer

The concept of informational influence suggests that discussing a topic with others who have different opinions can provide additional information that may lead to attitude change. This effect is enhanced through active participation in discussion.

Question 14

In the context of informational influences on group polarization,________ in discussion produces more attitude change than does ________.

Accepted Answer

Active participation in discussion is likely to produce more attitude change than passive listening. This is because actively engaging in discussions with others allows for the exchange and consideration of different ideas and perspectives, leading individuals to potentially adjust their own attitudes. In contrast, passive listening may not involve as much critical evaluation and exploration of ideas. Additionally, agreeing with others may reinforce existing attitudes, while arguing may lead to a defensive response and entrenchment of attitudes.

Question 15

Which of the following is a comment you are LEAST likely to hear being made within a group characterized by groupthink?

Accepted Answer

Groupthink is characterized by a strong desire for consensus and conformity, often leading to a lack of critical thinking and consideration of alternative viewpoints. Therefore, it is least likely that a comment advocating for careful consideration of alternatives would be made within a group exhibiting groupthink. The other options, A, B, and D, are more likely to be heard in a group exhibiting groupthink.

Question 16

Which of the following is an example of group polarization in one's community?

Accepted Answer

Group polarization refers to the tendency of a group to make decisions that are more extreme than the initial inclination of its members. Gang delinquency is an example where group dynamics can lead to more extreme behavior.

Question 17

A false impression of what most other people are thinking or feeling,or how they are responding is what social psychologists call:

Accepted Answer

The false impression of what most other people are thinking or feeling, or how they are responding, is known as pluralistic ignorance. This occurs when individuals believe that their own private beliefs or attitudes do not match the social norms or values, causing them to behave differently than they would otherwise. It is common in situations where individuals are unsure how to act or respond and may lead to a lack of action or inappropriate behavior.

Question 18

When people learn about others' positions-without making a prior commitment and without discussion or sharing of arguments-they will:

Accepted Answer

Learning about others' positions without prior commitment or discussion often leads individuals to adjust their responses to align with what they perceive as socially favorable or acceptable. This is because people generally want to fit in or be viewed positively by others.

Question 19

What underlying processes help to explain the occurrence of group polarization?

Accepted Answer

Group polarization occurs due to two underlying processes- informational influences (when group members rely on each other's opinions and perspectives for information) and normative influences (when group members conform to the group's norms and values in order to be accepted).

Question 20

Which of the following factors are needed for "groupthink" to occur?

Accepted Answer

Group cohesiveness is a necessary factor for groupthink to occur. Acceptance of dissenting views, members being well-informed regarding issues, and a transformational leader who mediates conflicts can actually prevent groupthink from happening.

Quiz 8: Group Influence