Question 1

Groupthink tends to lead to _____.

Accepted Answer

Groupthink is a phenomenon where a group of individuals prioritize consensus at the expense of individual critical thinking. This can lead to an illusion of infallibility, where the group believes that they cannot make mistakes or wrong decisions.

Question 2

The influence of a group in more structured, task-oriented situations occurs in _____.

Accepted Answer

Groupthink is a phenomenon in which group members prioritize consensus over critical thinking, resulting in flawed decision-making. This occurs more frequently in structured, task-oriented situations where there is pressure for the group to produce a specific outcome. The bystander effect and deindividuation are more closely associated with social influence in less structured or ambiguous situations.

Question 3

_____ is the process by which we explain our own behavior and that of others.

Accepted Answer

Attribution is the process of explaining behavior, either our own or that of others. It involves assigning causes or motives to behavior, such as attributing someone's behavior to their personality, circumstances, or actions of others. Self-serving bias and actor-observer bias are different types of attribution biases. Attitude refers to a person's evaluation of a particular object, person, or situation.

Question 4

Which is MOST likely to be said in a discussion that is characterized by groupthink?

Accepted Answer

Groupthink is characterized by a strong desire for conformity and a tendency to maintain consensus among group members. Therefore, the most likely statement in a discussion characterized by groupthink is to simply finalize the decision without critically reviewing alternatives or seeking outside expertise. Choices A and B involve critical examination of alternatives and seeking expert input, which is less likely in a groupthink scenario.

Question 5

Alan did very poorly on his last history test. The tendency to make the fundamental attribution error might lead his teacher to conclude that Alan did poorly because _____.

Accepted Answer

The fundamental attribution error is the tendency to overemphasize dispositional (internal) factors rather than situational (external) factors in explaining behavior. Alan's poor performance on the test could be due to external factors, such as a difficult or unclear test, or internal factors, such as lack of motivation. However, if the teacher makes the fundamental attribution error, they may assume that Alan did poorly because he is unmotivated, rather than considering other possible explanations.

Question 6

A group of people experiences _____ when, following discussion of a topic, their prevailing opinion concerning that topic is strengthened.

Accepted Answer

Group polarization occurs when a group's initial attitudes or opinions on a topic become more extreme following group discussion. This can be due to several factors, such as the tendency for individuals to seek out information that confirms their existing beliefs and the desire to conform to the attitudes of the group. Unlike groupthink, which involves a group conforming to a consensus decision without critical evaluation, group polarization can lead to a more diverse range of opinions within the group.

Question 7

Which statement about groupthink is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

Groupthink is generally considered to impair decision making by promoting conformity and suppressing critical thinking. It is not typically seen as a way to improve decision making.

Question 8

Analysts have suggested that groupthink was a factor in which historical event?

Accepted Answer

Groupthink has been identified as a contributing factor in all these events: the Bay of Pigs invasion, the Challenger space shuttle disaster, and the attack on Pearl Harbor. In each case, critical dissent was downplayed or ignored among decision-makers, leading to flawed decision-making processes.

Question 9

Ashley and her friends tended to be somewhat against stem cell research. After discussing the issue, their group opinion was more strongly against stem cell research. Such a shift in the attitudes of a group BEST illustrates _____.

Accepted Answer

Group polarization refers to the tendency for people’s attitudes to become more extreme after discussing an issue with like-minded others. In this case, Ashley and her friends were already somewhat against stem cell research, but after discussing it as a group, they became even more strongly opposed to it. This shift in their attitudes is an example of group polarization. Groupthink is a different phenomenon, where a group’s emphasis on group harmony can lead to the suppression of dissenting views and faulty decision-making. Social facilitation refers to the tendency for people to perform better on simple tasks in the presence of others. Deindividuation refers to the loss of self-awareness and individuality that can occur when people are in groups, which can lead to impulsive and deviant behavior.

Question 10

_____ impairs decision making because the desire for group harmony overrides a realistic appraisal of the possible decision alternatives.

Accepted Answer

Groupthink is a phenomenon in which the desire for group harmony and agreement overrides a realistic appraisal of the possible decision alternatives. This can lead to flawed decision making as the group fails to consider all available information and alternatives. Social loafing refers to a reduction in individual effort when working in a group, normative social influence occurs when individuals conform to group norms to gain social acceptance, and group polarization refers to the tendency for group discussion to strengthen the initial inclination of group members. None of these options describe a situation where group harmony overrides a realistic appraisal of decision alternatives.

Question 11

In a meeting to select a theme for the school carnival, there was pressure on everyone to approve a particular theme. New ideas were discouraged, and the primary goal appeared to be group harmony. This pattern of decision making BEST illustrates _____.

Accepted Answer

The scenario describes a situation in which there is pressure to conform to a particular decision and discouraged new ideas, which are two characteristics of groupthink. Groupthink occurs when a group's desire for harmony and agreement overrides rational thinking and decision-making.

Question 12

Which statement BEST characterizes thinking that reflects the fundamental attribution error?

Accepted Answer

The fundamental attribution error involves attributing a person's behavior to their internal characteristics rather than external circumstances. In this case, the person is assuming that the man is homeless because of his internal qualities, such as laziness, rather than external circumstances such as lack of job opportunities or underfunded social support services.

Question 13

Groupthink is LEAST likely to occur if _____.

Accepted Answer

Groupthink is a phenomenon that occurs when a group's desire for harmony and conformity result in irrational or dysfunctional decision-making. Minority opinions or dissenting perspectives can prevent groupthink from occurring by challenging the dominant perspective and encouraging critical evaluation of alternatives. Therefore, when minority opinions are openly presented and fairly discussed, groupthink is least likely to occur.

Question 14

When Leon was charged with raping his girlfriend, his defense attorney argued that his girlfriend had been wearing a very provocative outfit and went to his home when no one else was there. It appears as if the defense attorney was directly attempting to persuade jurors to consider which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The defense attorney is using the just-world hypothesis, which suggests that individuals get what they deserve, and that people who engage in risky or provocative behavior should expect negative consequences. By mentioning that the girlfriend was wearing a provocative outfit and came over when no one else was there, the defense is implying that the girlfriend was partly responsible for what happened to her. This argument is an attempt to shift blame away from the defendant and onto the victim, which is a common tactic used in rape cases.

Question 15

Carol recently joined a sorority whereas her roommate Diane did not. It is likely that during their college years they will experience the accentuation phenomenon, which is partially influenced by _____.

Accepted Answer

The accentuation phenomenon is the tendency for individuals to become more like their group over time. Group polarization is one factor that can contribute to this, as it involves group members becoming more extreme in their attitudes and beliefs after discussing them within the group.

Question 16

Unaware that Karen is working 40 hours a week, Dr. Johnson, her psychology instructor, thinks that Karen is lazy because she has not done her homework. Dr. Johnson's thinking BEST exemplifies which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Dr. Johnson is making a common attribution error by assuming that Karen's lack of homework completion is due to laziness rather than considering external factors such as her workload. The fundamental attribution error refers to the tendency to overemphasize dispositional (internal) causes for others' behavior while underemphasizing situational (external) causes.

Question 17

Barry and his friends tended to favor a tuition increase that would be used to improve technological facilities. After discussing this, their group opinion was even more strongly in favor of a tuition increase. Such a shift in the attitudes of a group BEST illustrates _____.

Accepted Answer

Group polarization occurs when a group's initial attitudes become more extreme after group discussion. In this case, Barry and his friends' initial attitude was in favor of a tuition increase to improve technological facilities, but after discussing it as a group, their opinion became even more strongly in favor, which is an example of group polarization. Groupthink refers to a group's collective desire for harmony and unanimity, social facilitation refers to the phenomenon of improved performance in the presence of others, and deindividuation refers to loss of self-awareness and self-restraint in group situations.

Question 18

Deindividuation is concerned with _____.

Accepted Answer

Deindividuation refers to the loss of self-awareness, inhibition, and accountability that can occur in group settings, particularly when individuals feel anonymous. This can lead to behaviors that would be unlikely in a non-group, non-anonymous setting, such as aggression or vandalism. Therefore, it is most closely associated with anonymity.

Question 19

Aaron and Jason have been friends for quite a while, but they have somewhat different ideas about social issues. In college, Aaron becomes active in the debate club, and Jason joins the baseball team. As they both become more involved with classmates in their new activities, their ideas about social issues become considerably different, reflecting _____.

Accepted Answer

The accentuation phenomenon suggests that when individuals become more involved in different groups or activities, their differences become more pronounced. This is likely the case with Aaron and Jason, as they become more involved with their respective clubs and their differing ideas about social issues begin to stand out. None of the other options (false consensus effect, deindividuation, social facilitation) accurately explain this situation.

Question 20

_____ is the loss of self-awareness and self-restraint in a group situation that fosters arousal and anonymity.

Accepted Answer

Deindividuation is the loss of self-awareness and self-restraint in a group situation that fosters arousal and anonymity. Group polarization is the tendency for a group to make more extreme decisions than the individual members would on their own. Diffusion of responsibility is the belief that one is not personally responsible for taking action in an emergency situation because there are others who could also take action. Groupthink is the tendency for a group to make decisions without critically evaluating alternative viewpoints or ideas.

Quiz 9: Section 2: Social Psychology