Question 1

Researchers have manipulated how powerful participants felt during an experiment. Consistent with the approach/inhibition theory of power, study results suggested that high-power participants were
A) more likely to use individuating information.
B) more likely to show empathy.
C) more likely to stereotype others.
D) less likely to take others' perspectives.

Accepted Answer

According to the approach/inhibition theory of power, high-power individuals tend to be less constrained by social norms and more likely to rely on stereotypes and generalizations in their judgments of others. Therefore, they are more likely to stereotype others.

Question 2

The symptoms of groupthink include all of the following EXCEPT
A) being open to outside criticism.
B) considering few alternative viewpoints.
C) ignoring relevant facts.
D) believing in the group's moral superiority.

Accepted Answer

The symptoms of groupthink do not include being open to outside criticism. Rather, individuals in a group affected by groupthink are likely to discount criticism from outside the group and  believe in the group's moral superiority. Considering few alternative viewpoints and ignoring relevant facts are other symptoms associated with groupthink.

Question 3

The approach/inhibition theory of power suggests that ________ individuals are more inclined to pursue their goals, whereas ________ individuals are more inclined to constrain their behavior.
A) high-power male; high-power female
B) low-power; high-power
C) high-power; low-power
D) low-power female; high-power female

Accepted Answer

The approach/inhibition theory of power suggests that individuals with high power are more inclined to pursue their goals, while individuals with low power are more inclined to constrain their behavior. Therefore, choice C, which suggests that high-power individuals are more inclined to pursue their goals and low-power individuals are more inclined to constrain their behavior, is the best choice. None of the other choices accurately reflect the approach/inhibition theory of power.

Question 4

According to the social comparison interpretation of group polarization, when exposed to other group members' attitudes, people's attitudes tend to become more extreme in the ________ because they want to ________.
A) opposite direction of the group's attitudes; play "devil's advocate"
B) opposite direction of the group's attitudes; distinguish themselves from others
C) same direction the group is already leaning; distinguish themselves from others
D) same direction the group is already leaning; play "devil's advocate"

Accepted Answer

The social comparison interpretation of group polarization suggests that when individuals are exposed to the attitudes of their group members, their own attitudes become more extreme in the same direction as the group's prevailing attitudes. This shift occurs because individuals seek to distinguish themselves positively within the group, often by adopting a more extreme stance in the direction the group is already leaning.

Question 5

A detested political dictator can be thought to have ________ without________.
A) status; power
B) power; status
C) status; authority
D) power; authority

Accepted Answer

A dictator may have power, which allows them to control the people and the government through force or manipulation, but they do not have status. Status typically implies a level of respect or admiration from others, which a dictator is unlikely to have. Similarly, authority suggests that the dictator has a legitimate right to rule, which is again unlikely given their despotic nature. Therefore, the best option is B - a detested political dictator can be thought to have power without status.

Question 6

With his roommates, Jason participates in a group discussion on the merits of gun control. Once the discussion is over, Jason finds that he and his roommates have all adopted similarly strong pro-gun control attitudes. This is an example of
A) groupthink.
B) social loafing. .
C) group polarization.
D) social facilitation.

Accepted Answer

Group polarization is the phenomenon where a group of individuals with similar views discuss an issue and end up adopting more extreme versions of their original views. In this case, Jason and his roommates have all adopted stronger pro-gun control attitudes after discussing the issue together. This is a clear example of group polarization. Groupthink is when a group of individuals prioritize harmony and conformity over critical thinking, which does not seem to be the case here as the individuals are actively discussing and debating the issue. Social loafing is when individuals do not pull their weight in a group project, which does not apply to a group discussion on gun control. Social facilitation is when individuals perform better in simple tasks while in the presence of others, which also does not apply to a group discussion on a complex issue.

Question 7

Matt ran for student body president at Arlen High School. He won the election, which thrust him into a position of great power and prestige. Research on power suggests that after becoming president, Matt might be
A) more likely to touch or stand close to other students.
B) less likely to flirt.
C) more accurate at judging how other people are feeling.
D) less rude.

Accepted Answer

Research suggests that those in positions of power are more likely to touch or stand close to others as a display of dominance and confidence.

Question 8

Evan is inclined to support the pro-choice position on abortion. He used to talk about abortion with a wide range of friends with different views. Then he stumbled on an Internet bulletin board that is visited almost exclusively by people who are pro-choice. Once this happened, he restricted his discussions on abortion with the other bulletin board members. According to social psychological research, Evan's attitude toward abortion is likely to become more
A) heterogeneous.
B) ambivalent.
C) extreme.
D) moderate.

Accepted Answer

According to social psychological research, when people are exposed to information and opinions that align with their own, their attitudes and beliefs tend to become more extreme. Therefore, it is likely that Evan's pro-choice stance on abortion would become more extreme if he only discusses the topic with other pro-choice individuals on the Internet bulletin board.

Question 9

Groupthink can be very powerful in interdependent cultures, such as in Japan, where the drive toward group harmony is especially strong. Despite this tendency toward groupthink, Japanese companies tend to be highly effective. According to the textbook, what practice might help to explain this?
A) Colleagues often engage in staged debates and someone plays "devil's advocate."
B) After the CEO states his or her opinion, he or she asks employees to engage in an open discussion.
C) CEOs meet individually with employees to discuss the relevant issues before a decision is made.
D) CEOs make decisions alone.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Groupthink can be very powerful in interdependent...

Question 10

John wants to examine whether social comparison processes help explain why the group polarization effect occurs, beyond the effects of persuasive arguments. He decides to conduct an experiment. John should expose individual group members to ________ to see if group polarization still occurs.
A) a pool of specific arguments without conveying any information about the positions endorsed by the rest of the group
B) the positions endorsed by the rest of the group without conveying the specific content of their arguments
C) the positions endorsed by all others in the group and the specific content of their respective arguments
D) a pool of specific arguments and ask them to guess which other group member(s) made them

Accepted Answer

By exposing individual group members to the positions endorsed by the rest of the group without conveying the specific content of their arguments, John can isolate the effect of social comparison processes on group polarization. This allows him to see if group members are moving toward more extreme positions simply because they want to conform to the group, rather than because of the persuasive arguments presented by other group members.

Question 11

Which of the following events best illustrates the disastrous effects of groupthink?
A) the Johnson administration's eventual decision to decrease the number of troops fighting in Vietnam
B) the Kennedy administration's decision to conduct the Bay of Pigs invasion
C) the Japanese government's decision to bomb Pearl Harbor
D) All of the above are correct.

Accepted Answer

The Bay of Pigs invasion was a disastrous decision made by the Kennedy administration that was heavily influenced by groupthink. The group of advisors surrounding Kennedy failed to consider alternative options and did not adequately assess the risks involved in the invasion, ultimately leading to a major failure. The other options may have also been influenced by groupthink to some extent, but the Bay of Pigs invasion is generally considered to be the most clear-cut example.

Question 12

Raymond is in a position where he is able to control his own outcomes and those of others. Which of the following terms best describes what Raymond possesses?
A) status
B) power
C) authority
D) dominance

Accepted Answer

Power refers to the ability to control outcomes, resources, or the behavior of others. Authority is a type of power that is based on a person’s position or role, while dominance implies a more aggressive form of control. Status refers to a person’s relative social position or standing in a group or society, but does not necessarily involve control over others. Therefore, power is the most appropriate term for describing Raymond’s ability to control both his own outcomes and those of others.

Question 13

Which of the following statements captures the persuasive arguments account of why group polarization occurs? Discussing an issue in a group
A) exposes group members to even more arguments in favor of the position that the average group member was already inclined to take.
B) exposes group members to arguments that contradict their original positions.
C) gives each person a chance to state his or her opinion out loud, which increases his or her commitment to that opinion.
D) increases group members' motivation to reach a consensus.

Accepted Answer

The persuasive arguments account of group polarization suggests that group discussion exposes people to even more arguments in favor of the position they were already inclined to take, leading to a more extreme version of that position.

Question 14

In order to prevent the occurrence of groupthink, a group leader should
A) refrain from making his or her opinion known at the beginning of the discussion.
B) decrease the group's exposure to opinions of nongroup members.
C) dismiss group members who are critical of the prevailing opinion.
D) increase the cohesiveness of the group.

Accepted Answer

Group leaders should refrain from making their opinion known at the beginning of discussions to prevent groupthink. This allows for more open and diverse opinions to be expressed, rather than just conforming to the leader's initial opinion.

Question 15

Which of the following statements captures the risky shift phenomenon?
A) Groups tend to make riskier decisions than individuals.
B) Individuals tend to make riskier decisions than groups.
C) People behave more courageously in groups than when alone.
D) People behave more courageously when alone than when in groups.

Accepted Answer

The risky shift phenomenon refers to the tendency for groups to make riskier decisions than individuals would on their own. Therefore, option A is the correct statement that captures this phenomenon. Option B and D are incorrect because they suggest the opposite of the risky shift phenomenon. Option C is not an accurate representation of the phenomenon as it focuses on courage rather than risk-taking.

Question 16

Several military officials meet to plan battle strategy. Captain Biggs thinks that General Olsen's strategy will be ineffective and deadly for American soldiers, but Biggs does not speak out. He is worried that others will see him as an ignorant coward. Biggs's response in this situation best illustrates how the concept of ________ applies to groupthink.
A) social censure
B) intellectual isolation
C) self-awareness
D) self-censorship

Accepted Answer

Biggs's self-censorship, or reluctance to voice his concerns due to fear of being seen as ignorant or a coward, is a clear example of how the concept of self-censorship applies to the phenomenon of groupthink. Groupthink occurs when members of a group prioritize maintaining consensus and harmony within the group over objectively evaluating alternative viewpoints or courses of action. Self-censorship is a key component of groupthink because it leads to a lack of diversity in opinions and prevents the group from fully considering all possible options.

Question 17

Early studies showed that decisions made in groups were riskier than decisions made on one's own. Later research, however, showed that group decisions are not always riskier than individual decisions but do tend to be more extreme. This phenomenon is captured by the concept of
A) risky shift.
B) group polarization.
C) social inoculation.
D) groupthink.

Accepted Answer

Group polarization describes the tendency for group decisions to be more extreme than individual decisions. Although early studies suggested that group decisions were riskier than individual decisions (known as risky shift), further research revealed that group decisions are not necessarily riskier, but instead tend to be more extreme in the direction that members were already leaning. Choice A (risky shift) and choice D (groupthink) are related concepts, but do not specifically capture the phenomenon of group decisions tending toward extremism. Choice C (social inoculation) refers to a technique used to build resistance to persuasive messages, and is not relevant to the topic of group decision-making.

Question 18

Research on decision making suggests that, compared with a single person, a group is more likely to generate the correct solution to a problem that
A) has a precise, factual answer.
B) does not have a precise, factual answer.
C) requires logical reasoning.
D) requires considering diverse perspectives.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Research on decision making suggests that, compared...

Question 19

Imagine that a group of corporate managers are experiencing groupthink. Which of the following behaviors might they display?
A) They place more importance on supporting the other group members than they do on supporting the leader.
B) They value generating many possible solutions to a problem over developing one solution fully.
C) They value reaching a consensus over critically evaluating the facts.
D) They become competitive and unlikely to cooperate with each other.

Accepted Answer

Groupthink is a phenomenon where group members prioritize reaching a consensus over critically evaluating the facts. This can lead to a narrow focus on certain ideas or viewpoints, and a reluctance to consider alternative perspectives or solutions. Option A does not reflect groupthink as it suggests that members prioritize supporting each other over the leader. Option B suggests that the group values generating many solutions, which is not necessarily a negative behavior. Option D suggests competition among group members, whereas groupthink involves a high level of cohesion and agreement among members.

Question 20

In what situation would sorority members be most likely to engage in self-censorship?
A) when they have a strong leader
B) when they have a weak leader
C) when there is an overall lack of motivation to reach a consensus within the sorority
D) when there is an overall low level of stress within the sorority

Accepted Answer

When there is a strong leader present, individuals in a group, such as a sorority, may be more likely to engage in self-censorship due to the desire to conform to the leader's views or to avoid conflict.

Quiz 12: Groups

Researchers have manipulated how powerful participants felt during an experiment. Consistent with the approach/inhibition theory of power, study results suggested that high-power participants were

The symptoms of groupthink include all of the following EXCEPT

The approach/inhibition theory of power suggests that individuals are more inclined to pursue their goals, whereas individuals are more inclined to constrain their behavior.

According to the social comparison interpretation of group polarization, when exposed to other group members' attitudes, people's attitudes tend to become more extreme in the because they want to .

A detested political dictator can be thought to have without.

With his roommates, Jason participates in a group discussion on the merits of gun control. Once the discussion is over, Jason finds that he and his roommates have all adopted similarly strong pro-gun control attitudes. This is an example of

Matt ran for student body president at Arlen High School. He won the election, which thrust him into a position of great power and prestige. Research on power suggests that after becoming president, Matt might be

Groupthink can be very powerful in interdependent cultures, such as in Japan, where the drive toward group harmony is especially strong. Despite this tendency toward groupthink, Japanese companies tend to be highly effective. According to the textbook, what practice might help to explain this?

John wants to examine whether social comparison processes help explain why the group polarization effect occurs, beyond the effects of persuasive arguments. He decides to conduct an experiment. John should expose individual group members to ________ to see if group polarization still occurs.

Which of the following events best illustrates the disastrous effects of groupthink?

Raymond is in a position where he is able to control his own outcomes and those of others. Which of the following terms best describes what Raymond possesses?

Which of the following statements captures the persuasive arguments account of why group polarization occurs? Discussing an issue in a group

In order to prevent the occurrence of groupthink, a group leader should

Which of the following statements captures the risky shift phenomenon?

Early studies showed that decisions made in groups were riskier than decisions made on one's own. Later research, however, showed that group decisions are not always riskier than individual decisions but do tend to be more extreme. This phenomenon is captured by the concept of

Research on decision making suggests that, compared with a single person, a group is more likely to generate the correct solution to a problem that

Imagine that a group of corporate managers are experiencing groupthink. Which of the following behaviors might they display?

In what situation would sorority members be most likely to engage in self-censorship?