Class 12 psychology Chapter 7 Social Influence and Group Processes

Key Concept: Stage Overlap, Stage Skipping

a) Skipped Storming, went straight from Forming to Performing

[Solution Description] In a crisis, immediate action is needed; thus, the team might skip the Storming stage due to predefined roles and focus directly on performing tasks efficiently, indicating a direct transition from Forming to Performing.

Key Concept: Ingroup Favoritism

c) Ingroup favoritism

[Solution Description] Ingroup favoritism refers to the preference and affinity one shows towards their own group compared to others. It is characterized by a biased attitude that leads members to give preferential treatment to the ingroup while being less favorable to the outgroup.

Key Concept: Conflict Resolution

b) Open communication

[Solution Description] Conflicts during the storming stage are best resolved through open communication, which allows group members to express concerns and collaboratively find solutions.

Key Concept: Leadership and Authority, Dynamics and Interactions

c) When formal leadership is questioned; challenges existing authority.

[Solution Description] An informal leader often emerges in situations where there are gaps in communication or trust in the formal leadership. This person gains influence among peers through charisma, expertise, or relationships. Their emergence can alter group dynamics by redirecting the group’s focus, possibly undermining formal authority but also potentially improving morale and cohesion.

Key Concept: Scenario Analysis

b) Common motives and goals

[Solution Description] The scenario describes a group coming together for a shared objective of providing free medical services, which aligns with the concept of having common motives and goals leading to group formation.

Key Concept: Critical Thinking, Conceptual Integration

c) While it improves coordination, it might suppress necessary disagreement

[Solution Description] Cohesiveness facilitates effective decision-making through streamlined communication and mutual trust, yet it may also lead to groupthink, where dissenting opinions are not considered, hindering thorough analysis. Therefore, while cohesiveness enhances coordination, it can also create blind spots if diversity of thought is not actively encouraged.

Key Concept: Complex Group Interactions, Group Cohesion Challenges

b) It leads to groupthink, restricting new ideas.

[Solution Description] High cohesion can result in groupthink, where individuals conform to group norms and ideas, suppressing dissenting opinions or unique perspectives. This pressure to conform reduces the expression of creative or innovative ideas, hindering individual creativity.

Key Concept: Stage Characteristics

b) Completing the task and disbanding the group

[Solution Description] The adjourning stage is characterized by the completion of tasks and the disbanding of the group. It occurs after all objectives have been achieved, marking the end of the group’s collaboration.

Key Concept: Definition Recall

d) The relative social position given to group members by others

[Solution Description] In the context of group dynamics, status refers to the social ranking or relative position given to individuals within a group, based on perceived importance or prestige.

Key Concept: Real-world Application, Group Influence

c) A business analyst joins a national association for financial professionals, gaining insights into market trends and expanding connections within the industry.

[Solution Description] Joining a secondary group like a professional organization often enhances an individual’s networking opportunities and shapes their professional identity. Such memberships provide access to industry knowledge, trends, and connections, potentially influencing career development paths.

Key Concept: Real-World Application, Leadership Hierarchy

c) Norming; established roles facilitate cohesive teamwork.

[Solution Description] According to Tuckman’s model, the establishment of leadership roles typically occurs during the norming stage. It is at this stage where group members start understanding each other’s strengths and weaknesses, leading to the natural emergence of leaders who help coordinate tasks effectively. By having clear leadership, the group enhances its ability to work cohesively towards achieving its common goals by ensuring role clarity and effective delegation.

Key Concept: Effect Analysis

c) It will likely result in an extreme opinion forming.

[Solution Description] Group polarisation can lead to decisions that are more extreme than the initial inclinations of individuals. In this scenario, if new arguments supporting one side are introduced and some members start leaning towards it, the bandwagon effect might occur, causing others to follow as they identify with the group’s newfound stance. Thus, an undecided position could potentially evolve into a strong support or opposition to the policy.

Key Concept: Factors Facilitating Group Formation

c) Proximity

[Solution Description] Proximity, or the physical closeness between individuals, enhances opportunities for interaction and bond formation, thus facilitating group formation.

Key Concept: Concept Matching

c) Trust and cooperation

[Solution Description] In the performing stage, group cohesion refers to the level of trust, solidarity, and cooperation among group members, which facilitates better performance and goal achievement.

Key Concept: Group Formation Stages, Groupthink Phenomenon

d) Performing

[Solution Description] The stages of group formation include forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning. Groupthink typically occurs during the performing stage when cohesiveness is very high, leading members to prioritize harmony over critical decision-making. During this stage, groups have already passed through conflict and established norms.

Key Concept: Advanced Scenario Analysis, Critical Thinking

c) Results in reduced participation and idea-sharing.

[Solution Description] Low self-esteem can lead to decreased initiative and reluctance to share ideas, hampering collaboration. Individuals may doubt their contributions, leading to less engagement and potential underperformance in collective tasks that require input and creativity.

Key Concept: Ingroup vs Outgroup

b) A group you do not belong to

[Solution Description] An outgroup refers to a group that one does not belong to or identify with.

Key Concept: Group Characteristics

c) Structured roles and norms

[Solution Description] For a collection of individuals to be considered a group, they must have structured roles and norms which facilitate interdependence and goal achievement.

Key Concept: Real-World Application, Cultural Impact

c) Ingroup bias leads to siloed working groups and decreased cooperation.

[Solution Description]

To solve this question, we need to consider how cultural differences can influence perceptions within diverse teams. Individuals may favor those from similar cultural backgrounds (ingroup favoritism), potentially leading to biases in teamwork and decision-making processes. This could manifest as either exclusion or preferential treatment which affects the overall collaboration.

Key Concept: Status Concept

c) Assertion is true, but Reason is false.

[Solution Description]

The Assertion mentions that status in a group can be categorized as either ascribed or achieved, which is true according to the syllabus. However, the Reason incorrectly explains ascribed status. Ascribed status is not earned; it is typically assigned based on attributes such as seniority or family background. Achieved status, on the other hand, is earned through actions such as gaining expertise or showing hard work. Hence, the reason provided does not correctly explain the assertion.

Key Concept: Cohesiveness, Social Influence

c) Social facilitation by authority

[Solution Description]

This scenario highlights social influence, specifically social facilitation coupled with the endorsement effect. A respected figure’s support can shift group opinion by reducing hesitation among others, showcasing how group status impacts individual perspectives and decisions.

Key Concept: Impact of Cohesiveness on Groupthink, Real-world Application of Group Polarisation

c) Groupthink

[Solution Description] The scenario describes a situation where initial innovative ideas were not pursued because the group’s cohesiveness led to consensus around safer options. This aligns with the concept of groupthink, where high cohesion suppresses dissent and prioritizes unanimity over original ideas.

Key Concept: Group Formation

a) Increased face-to-face interaction

[Solution Description] A primary group is characterized by close, face-to-face interaction and emotional bonds. Frequent personal contact and shared experiences often reinforce these connections.

Key Concept: Comparative Analysis

c) Social loafing occurs when individual efforts are not evaluated.

[Solution Description] Social loafing occurs when individuals exert less effort while working in a group due to reduced accountability, whereas group polarization involves groups making more extreme decisions than individuals as initial positions are strengthened during discussions.

Key Concept: Cohesiveness Concept

c) The sense of belongingness and togetherness among group members

[Solution Description] Cohesiveness refers to the sense of togetherness, binding or mutual attraction among group members, which leads to a sense of belongingness within the group. This can enhance collaboration and effectiveness in achieving group goals.

Key Concept: Critical Evaluation, Complex Scenario Analysis

b) Making individual efforts identifiable and enhancing group cohesiveness

[Solution Description] Social loafing can be counteracted by strategies such as identifying individual efforts, which increases personal accountability, and strengthening group cohesiveness to enhance motivation and engagement among remote team members.

Key Concept: Comparative Analysis, Coordination Challenge

c) Increasing individual accountability mitigates loafing more effectively than enhanced coordination

[Solution Description] Enhancing coordination ensures that all members understand their roles and responsibilities within the team, which helps in aligning efforts towards common goals. However, increasing individual accountability directly addresses the issue of reduced responsibility, making each member’s effort more visible and therefore reducing loafing more significantly.

Key Concept: Role of Group Dynamics

b) Group cohesiveness

[Solution Description] Group dynamics such as cohesiveness, unanimity, and public responses significantly strengthen normative influence. When a group is cohesive, members feel a stronger connection and pressure to conform to its norms to maintain harmony and solidarity. Unanimity further increases the pressure to conform, as deviation becomes more noticeable, resulting in greater adherence to group norms.

Key Concept: Role Identification

a) To lead and direct group activities

[Solution Description] The primary role of a leader in a group is to guide, influence, and support group members towards achieving common goals. Leaders are expected to provide direction, set objectives, and ensure that all members are aligned with the group’s vision.

Key Concept: Group Polarisation, Complex Group Structures

d) Group Polarisation

[Solution Description] The described behavior aligns with the concept of group polarisation, where a homogenous group tends to adopt more extreme positions as discussions progress due to reinforcement from like-minded individuals.

Key Concept: Real-world Application, Psychological Impact

c) Emphasizing superordinate goals

[Solution Description] To reduce ingroup bias and improve teamwork in a multicultural setting, one effective method is to promote superordinate goals. Superordinate goals are shared objectives that can only be achieved through collaboration among all group members, regardless of their cultural backgrounds. This approach encourages individuals to focus on common interests rather than differences, thereby reducing ingroup favoritism.

Key Concept: Social Influence Dynamics, Real-world Application

c) Indifferent members may adopt the majority view, solidifying the policy.

[Solution Description] Social influence within the board can lead to increased conformity among the members who are initially indifferent. These individuals may align with the majority due to pressures for cohesion and acceptance within the group. Consequently, the final decision is likely to reflect the majority’s strong preference for preserving green spaces, even if it means overlooking other important considerations or compromises.

Key Concept: Status Understanding

c) The relative social position given to group members

[Solution Description] Status refers to the relative social position given to group members by others, which can be either ascribed or achieved.

Key Concept: Identification of Influencing Factors

c) High level of ambiguity

[Solution Description] Ambiguity in the situation heightens informational influence, as individuals are more inclined to rely on others’ knowledge or expertise when the correct course of action is unclear.

Key Concept: Stages of Formation

c) Group members begin understanding their roles and objectives.

[Solution Description] During the forming stage, individuals come together and start to understand the group’s purpose and objectives. This stage involves getting to know each other and exploring uncertainties about the role each member will play.

Key Concept: Group Identity

b) Group identity

[Solution Description] The norming stage is characterized by the establishment of a group identity. During this phase, group norms are developed, and members start feeling like part of a cohesive unit, which strengthens their collective identity.

Key Concept: Status Differentiation

c) A social position received at birth

[Solution Description] Ascribed status refers to a social position a person receives at birth or takes on involuntarily later in life. It is not earned or chosen but assigned.

Key Concept: Stages of Group Formation, Cohesiveness, Why Do People Join Groups?

c) Norming

[Solution Description]

During the norming stage, members start establishing norms and roles leading to enhanced cohesion. This stage allows the group to focus on tasks and achieve complex goals effectively as interpersonal conflicts reduce and cooperation increases.

Key Concept: Definition Recall

a) Mutual interdependence

[Solution Description] A fundamental characteristic of a group is mutual interdependence, which refers to the reliance upon one another within the group for achieving common goals and fulfilling roles.

Key Concept: Group Goals

b) Group goals are often vague and open to discussion.

[Solution Description]

In the forming stage, group goals are often vague and not well-defined as members are just beginning to explore the purpose and objectives of the group. There is often a focus on understanding individual roles and establishing initial connections before delving into specific goal setting. The approach to goals at this stage is generally tentative and open-ended, allowing room for adjustments as the group develops.

Key Concept: Complex Scenario Evaluation, Advanced Cause and Effect

b) Ingroup identification and validation of existing arguments.

[Solution Description] Group polarisation occurs when group interaction leads to more extreme positions being adopted by the group. In this situation, if most team members are like-minded or share similar initial radical views, group discussion reinforces these beliefs, leading to a preference for extreme decisions.

Key Concept: Group Characteristics

b) Close physical proximity

[Solution Description] Primary groups are characterized by close, personal relationships and strong emotional bonds. They involve face-to-face interactions and are usually long-lasting with an emphasis on emotional support and mutual care.

Key Concept: Argument Influence

c) It reinforces existing opinions, leading to polarisation

[Solution Description] The introduction of new arguments in a group discussion often provides additional reasons for the initial opinions, thus reinforcing and strengthening them. When members hear more arguments that align with their views, they feel justified in holding even stronger versions of those beliefs.

Key Concept: Basic Definition

b) The process by which individuals change their behavior to meet the demands of a social environment

[Solution Description] Social influence is defined as the process by which individuals change their behavior to meet the demands of a social environment. Therefore, it involves adapting one’s actions based on the expectations or norms of a group.

Key Concept: Real-world Application, Group Dynamics

a) Establish clear objectives early and address conflicts through regular virtual meetings.

[Solution Description] Tuckman’s model includes forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning. In the forming stage, clarifying goals and fostering open communication is essential. During storming, addressing conflicts constructively helps move towards norming, where team norms develop. Providing clear objectives and resources during these initial stages is crucial for advancing to performing, where efficiency peaks.