PSY-5 (Ch.12 Groups)
Complete the following passage about the phenomenon known as groupthink.
Groupthink refers to the faulty thinking by members of cohesive groups in which critical decision-making scrutiny is subverted by social pressures to reach consensus.
Which of the following are steps suggested by Irving Janis to improve group deliberations and prevent groupthink?
Suggested by Janis Have the group leader refrain from making his or her opinions or preferences known at the start. Make sure the group is not cut off from outside input. Not Suggested by Janis Make sure no devil's advocates exist within the group. Be prepared to engage in vigorous damage control if the decision proves wrong.
The presence of others can sometimes mask the typical social facilitation effects. One example of this is a tendency to exert less effort when working on a group task in which individual contributions cannot be monitored. What is this phenomenon called?
social loafing
Power is related to three other kinds of social rank—status, authority, and dominance—but it is not synonymous with them. Complete the following scenario that describes how these three concepts relate to power within the social hierarchy.
A brutal dictator might have engaged in dominance to acquire power and will likely continue to exhibit that behavior to demonstrate and maintain power. The dictator's institutionalized position at the top of the hierarchy would give him authority. However, if those who are lower than him in the hierarchy do not respect him, his power will not be accompanied by status.
Drag the missing labels to the correct places in Zajonc's model of social facilitation.
Arousal Increase in dominant response tendencies simple or well-learned difficult or novel
Power comes to individuals in leadership positions. Match each concept related to power to its definition.
ability to control one's own outcomes and those of others; the freedom to act Correct label: power behavior enacted with the goal of acquiring or demonstrating power Correct label: dominance power that derives from institutionalized roles or arrangements Correct label: authority outcome of an evaluation of attributes that produces differences in respect and prominence; contributes to determining a person's power within a group Correct label: status
Complete the following passage about one aspect of power that often leads to undesirable behavior by high-power individuals.
A consistent effect of power is that it disinhibits: It encourages people to express their underlying inclinations, which are often bad in people with a high need for power. If the person is inclined toward aggressive or boorish behavior, having power will make such behavior more likely. Researchers have found that accountability—the condition in which one person feels responsibility to others—constrains the negative aspects of this effect.
Complete the following sentence describing the conditions that constitute a group according to the textbook.
A group is a collection of individuals who have relations to one another that make them interdependent to one another to a significant degree.
Complete the following passage about how self-consciousness can affect behavior.
A prediction of self-awareness theory is that focusing attention on the self leads people to a state of individuation, which is marked by careful deliberation and concern with how well their actions conform to their own moral standards.
Which of the following statements regarding group decision making are accurate?
Accurate Groups tend to make better decisions than individuals for problems with precise, factual answers. Individuals in groups can be more concerned about being judged than about finding the best solution. Individuals in groups sometimes value the feelings of others more than finding the best answer. Not Accurate Groups always make better decisions than individuals.
Which of the following statements about Zajonc's theory on social facilitation are accurate?
Accurate It holds that the mere presence of others makes one aroused. It explains why the presence of others affects one's performance. It predicts that arousal will make a person more likely to use a dominant response. Not Accurate It states that an increase of dominant responses facilitates complex tasks and inhibits simple tasks.
Which of the following statements about the concept of evaluation apprehension are accurate?
Accurate It relates to people's concern about how they might appear to others or be evaluated by them. Some social psychologists have argued it—and not mere presence—is the crucial element underlying social facilitation. Not Accurate It is the awareness of another's presence causing conflict between attending to that person or to the task at hand. Results of Hazel Markus's experiment on it contradict and refute Zajonc's theory of mere presence.
Which of the following statements regarding self-consciousness and the spotlight effect are accurate?
Accurate Studies show that the typical level of self-consciousness is fairly high, particularly when others are around. People tend to believe that other people are paying attention to their appearance and behavior more than is actually the case. People tend to think others notice the behaviors they are proud of—making an insightful comment in a discussion, for example—more than is usually the case. Not Accurate People's expectations about how much others notice embarrassing behaviors—triggering an alarm in a building, for example—are generally accurate.
Which of the following statements about decision-making groups in Japanese culture and their effectiveness are accurate?
Accurate There is rarely true debate or any other exchange that might appear confrontational or cause anyone to lose face at scientific meetings in Japan. In many Japanese business meetings, participants simply nod their approval of the proposal brought to them, and no true debate occurs. Not Accurate Groupthink is extremely common within Japanese corporations since true debates rarely occur.
Which of the following describe ways that low-power individuals would tend to behave according to the predictions of the approach/inhibition theory of power?
Behaviors Predicted by the Approach/Inhibition Theory of Power They are more inclined to constrain their behavior and pay closer attention to others. They will be less able to shift their attention to meet the varied demands of the task at hand. They will be more attuned to others. Not a Behavior Predicted by the Approach/Inhibition Theory of Power They will be more cognitively flexible and creative in their thinking.
Which of the following describe ways that high-power individuals would tend to behave according to the predictions of the approach/inhibition theory of power?
Behaviors Predicted by the Approach/Inhibition Theory of Power They will be less constrained by boundaries on overt sexual expression. They will tend to use stereotypes regarding others. They will often be inattentive to those around them. Not a Behavior Predicted by the Approach/Inhibition Theory of Power They will not show overt aggression. They will adhere more strongly to social manners.
Which of the following describe characteristics that social psychologists have identified as typical of people who rise to positions of leadership in social hierarchies?
Characteristics expertise and skill relevant to the goals of the group emotional intelligence requisite social skills to build strong, cooperative relations among group members ability to provide rewards to the group Not a Characteristic deception and skill at using coercion, fear, and manipulation
According to Philip Zimbardo, people often find the impulsivity that accompanies deindividuation to be liberating. Which of the following statements accurately help explain what this means?
Correct Answer(s) Acting impulsively can fulfill a yearning to break free from mental constraints. People spend much of their lives under tight cognitive controls that can be stifling. Incorrect Answer(s) Societies do not recognize the human need to act impulsively.
Which of the following are real-world situations where it has been suggested that groupthink played a role in defective decision making?
Correct Answer(s) the Kennedy administration's support of the Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba the Bush administration's claim that WMDs existed in Iraq ahead of the invasion of Iraq the actions of NASA leading up to the Challenger disaster Incorrect Answer(s) the Kennedy administration's handling of the Cuban missile crisis
Which of the following examples of everyday applications show people using social facilitation rules to their benefit?
Examples Anna takes an exam on material she knows well for her online course in a room with proctors and 90 other students. Vera studies alone as she tries to absorb and integrate some challenging materials. Reed attends a pre-exam class review session to go over concepts he has already assimilated. Not an Example Livern faces new challenges every day in her difficult job. She works in open office area with 20 other people. One night a week, Ethan stuffs envelopes for the alumni association in a room by himself.
Studies of empirical data have supported the idea that variables leading to deindividuation also lead to antisocial behavior. Which of the following are examples of such studies?
Examples suicide baiting the conduct of war Halloween transgressions Not an Example Bay of Pigs decision analysis
Which of the following are examples of a group as defined in the textbook?
Examples the board of directors of a corporation a baseball team you and your classmates assigned to work together on a graded project Not an Example People coming and going from New York's Central Park on an uneventful day. Everyone in the United States that got a new job yesterday. The freshman class at a large university.
Which of the following are accurate explanations of why emergent behaviors—behaviors that emerge only when people are in groups—are extremely difficult to study?
Explanations Ethical constraints exist against putting people in situations where aggressiveness and acts of destruction are likely. People are on their best behavior when they enter a scientific lab, and it's difficult to create a situation where they will act impulsively and destructively. Not an Explanation Scientifically valid research is impossible to conduct on it in either the lab or the real world.
Complete the following passage about the how the definition of social facilitation has changed over time.
Following the early research initiated by Norman Triplett, social facilitation was initially a term that only meant enhanced performance in the presence of others. But it is now a broader term for the effect—positive or negative—of the presence of others on performance, which reflects research by Robert Zajonc and others.
Complete the following passage about investigations of whether groups tend to be riskier or more cautious decision makers than individuals.
On the basis of research, James Stoner and others concluded that groups tend to make riskier decisions than individuals, a pattern that came to be known as risky shift. Subsequent studies have suggested that groups tend to reinforce people's initial leanings—be those reactions more cautious or riskier. This is the basis for the phenomenon of group polarization, the tendency for group decisions to be more extreme than those made by individuals.
Match each example to the term relating to group decision making that best describes it.
Patricia thought the prom theme that her committee came up with was offensive, but she kept quiet because she didn't want to rock the boat. Correct label: self-censorship The venture capital group leans towards caution during the downturn. After a discussion, they vote down a risky investment. Correct label: group polarization Hiring committee members were predisposed to hire the applicant with less experience. They meet and agree to do just that. Correct label: group polarization The failed tech company's board consistently approved high-risk ventures even when individual members urged caution. Correct label: risky shift
Match each example to the concept that best describes it. Each concept can be used only once, so make sure there isn't a better choice before matching.
Paul feels self-conscious because he thinks the other weightlifters might judge him if he lifts smaller weights. Correct label: evaluation apprehension Monica is an experienced runner. She runs better when someone else is present on the track. Correct label: social facilitation At his company's volunteer day at a local school, Aaron catches up on Twitter while his coworkers paint walls. Correct label: social loafing Becky's focus gets diverted when another person enters the dance rehearsal space. Correct label: distraction-conflict
The power of persuasive arguments and the effects of social comparison have both been cited as factors in group polarization. Decide which of these two causes of social polarization each of the following statements discusses.
People tend to think that they are farther out on the "correct" side of the opinion distribution on most issues. Correct label: social comparison Discovering that their views are more mainstream than they believed leads some people to intensify their views, thus nudging group decisions to be more extreme. Correct label: social comparison Group discussion tends to expose an average person to new lines of reasoning that strengthen the position he or she was leaning toward. Correct label: persuasive arguments
Which of the following are reasons that our earliest ancestors lived in groups?
Reasons Living in groups made acquiring food more efficient. Groups gave them better protection from aggressors and predators. Groups provided assistance in the caring of children. Not a Reason All other mammals live in groups, and they were following their examples.
Which of the following are reasons why social hierarchies and leaders are considered to be natural components of groups?
Reasons Social hierarchy provides rules for dividing up resources. Hierarchies provide a shared understanding of who guides group discussion and how decisions are made. Collective actions require the coordination of individual behaviors, and having leaders provides needed order. Not a Reason Since individuals tend to make poor decisions, they need to be told what to do. Leaders fulfill this need.
Complete the following passage about research into the physiological underpinnings of postures that humans use to convey high and low power.
Researchers found that when people assumed a high-power body posture, it led to increased levels of testosterone, a hormone that increases dominant behaviors and aggression. When people held their bodies in low-power postures, it increased their levels of cortisol, a stress hormone that increases vigilant and inhibited behavior and is known to be activated in submissive individuals.
Which of the following statements accurately support the idea that groups in the United States tend to lean in a risky direction for decision making because U.S. culture values risk taking?
Support A shift toward greater risk was observed in 10 of the 12 scenarios used in Stoner's original investigations. American participants in a study assumed that risk takers have favorable qualities such as intelligence. Americans in a study described higher-than-average comfort with risk taking as a trait they admire. Do Not Support In a study, risky shift occurred less often in U.S. participants than in participants from other cultures.
According to Zajonc's ideas on social facilitation, for each of the following scenarios, decide if performance would tend to be facilitated or if it would tend to be hindered.
The choir director asks Janice to sing an aria that she knows very well in front of the rest of the group. Correct label: Performance is facilitated. Mari, the team's best free-throw shooter, has been practicing on her own when her teammates start to arrive. Correct label: Performance is facilitated. Ramon's friend sits beside him as he tries to drive a car with a stick shift for the first time. Correct label: Performance is hindered. Emma goes to the chalkboard to solve a difficult organic chemistry problem that she doesn't understand well in front of the class. Correct label: Performance is hindered.
The effect of the presence of others on performance has been studied for a long time, and as a result, our understanding of this effect has changed over time. Place the following events relating to research of this effect in order—from the earliest to the most recent.
Triplett found that the presence of others engaged in the same activity tends to improve performance. Researchers including Allport found many examples of situations where performance tends to be better when people are alone. The assumption grew that presence of others has an effect on performance, but that the effect was unpredictable. Zajonc argued that the mere presence of others can hinder performance on difficult or novel tasks, but improve performance on simple or known tasks.
Match each of the following terms about the relationship between self-consciousness and behavior to its definition.
a reduced sense of personal identity accompanied by diminished self-regulation that can come over people when they are in a large group Correct label: deindividuation an enhanced sense of personal identity produced by focusing attention on the self, which generally leads people to act carefully and deliberately Correct label: individuation people's conviction that other people are paying attention to their appearance and behavior more than they actually are Correct label: spotlight effect idea that when people turn their attention inward they focus on self-evaluation and how their current behavior meets their internal standards and values Correct label: self-awareness theory
Sarah's school just won the NCAA basketball championship. Thousands of students have run outside and started vandalizing school property to celebrate. Sarah is normally mild mannered, but she gets caught up in the mob. Apply Zimbardo's model of deindividuation to this scenario by matching each example from Sarah's experience to the appropriate component of the deindividuation process.
antecedent conditions Correct label: Sarah is energized by the crowd. internal state (deindividuation) Correct label: Sarah no longer cares what others think. behavioral effect Correct label: Sarah impulsively smashes a window.
Groupthink and defective decision making occur when decision-making groups are motivated unduly to seek consensus, but other conditions must be present as well. Match each condition leading to groupthink to the type of condition it is according to Irving Janis's groupthink hypothesis.
antecedent conditions Correct label: directive leadership Correct label: high cohesiveness of group symptoms of groupthink Correct label: self-censorship by group members Correct label: stereotypes of outgroups symptoms of defective decision making Correct label: poor information search Correct label: selective bias in processing available information
In Philip Zimbardo's theoretical model for deindividuation, certain antecedent conditions lead to an internal state of deindividuation, which in turn leads to behavioral effects that in other situations would be kept under control. Match the elements from Zimbardo's model to their appropriate category.
arousal and sensory overload of being in a large group Correct label: antecedent conditions emotionality and antisocial activity Correct label: behavioral effects lessening of self-observation and self-evaluation Correct label: internal state of deindividuation anonymity and diffusion of responsibility Correct label: antecedent conditions lessened concern over others' evaluations and with shame, fear, and guilt Correct label: internal state of deindividuation impulsivity and irrationality Correct label: behavioral effects
Match each term related to group decision making to its definition.
faulty thinking by members of highly cohesive groups, in which critical scrutiny of the issues at hand is subverted by social pressures to reach consensus Correct label: groupthink the tendency for groups to make riskier decisions than individuals would Correct label: risky shift the tendency for group decisions to be more extreme than those made by individuals Correct label: group polarization withholding information or opinions in group discussions Correct label: self-censorship
Match each term relating to social facilitation to the correct definition.
people's concern about how they might appear to others, or be evaluated by them Correct label: evaluation apprehension in a person's hierarchy of possible reactions in any context, the reaction he or she is most likely to make Correct label: dominant response the tendency to exert less effort when working on a group task in which individual contributions cannot be monitored Correct label: social loafing the effect, positive or negative, of the presence of others on performance Correct label: social facilitation the idea that social facilitation effects occur when the presence of another person creates a conflict between paying attention to that person or to a task at hand Correct label: distraction-conflict theory
