chapter 9

Question 1

1. First, what is groupthink and when is it most likely to influence the decisions made by a group?

Answer 1

groupthink: group decision making that is impaired by the drive to reach consensus regardless of how the consensus is formed
most likely to influence decisions made by a group when the desire to reach a consensus becomes more important than the desire to reach a consensus the right way; norm formation goes wrong
occurs when groups feel overwhelming pressure for agreement to maintain a positive view of the group in the face of threat

Question 2

1. Second, how could you make sure that groupthink does not influence the decision made by your group?

Answer 2

make sure that everyone’s voices are being heard and included

Question 3

2. informational influence and how it influences jane at new school

Answer 3

informational influence: when people privately conform because they believe the groups norms reflect realty
If everyone at Jane’s new school eats lunch from the school, Jane will stop bringing a bagged lunch even if she doesn’t like the schools food because that’s what everyone else is doing. Since everyone else seems to enjoy the school food, Jane decides she should like it too

Question 4

2. normative influence and how it influences jane at new school

Answer 4

normative influence: the process by which group norms are privately accepted to achieve or maintain connectedness and a valued social identity
If everyone at Jane’s new school plays a sport, then Jane will also play a sport, to increase connectedness