Group Decision Making Flashcards
What is group decision making?
The process where a group collectively makes a choice from available options.
What is groupthink?
A decision making process in which the desire for a unanimous decision results in an irrational or dysfunction decision-making outcome.
What does groupthink result in?
- Inadequate considerations of opinions.
- Ignoring implications of decisions.
- Biased assessments or risks, costs and benefits.
- Poor information search.
- Weak contingency plans.
- Defending the group decisions.
- Attempts to stifle dissent.
- Illusions of consensus.
What are 8 ways in which you can avoid groupthink?
- Foster open discussions.
- Consider ‘worst-case’ scenario.
- Create contingency plans.
- Leaders should not advocate one plan early in discussion.
- External expertise.
- Several independent sub-groups.
- ‘Second chance’ meetings.
- Members openly accountable.
What is brainstorming?
Workig together to solve a problem by gathering ideas.
Is brainstorming or individual work more effective?
Individuals working alone generate more ideas and better-quality ideas compared to brainstorming.
What reduces the effectiveness of brainstorming?
- Social loafing (people contributing less effort in groups).
- Production blocking (waiting for a turn to speak).
- Evaluation apprehension (fear of judgement).
What are some cognitive and social barriers in groups?
- People conform to dominant ideas rather than thinking independently.
- Group members focus too much on others’ ideas.
- Personality differences affect participation levels (introvert/extrovert).
What are better alternatives to traditional brainstorming?
- Nominal Group Technique (NGT): Individuals generate ideas alone before discussing them.
- Digital or asynchronous brainstorming avoids group related issues.
- Encourgaing structured debates and critical discussions can enhance creative outcomes.
What is group polarisation?
The tendency for groups to make decisions that are more extreme than the initial inclinations of its individual members.
- This happens where like minded individuals reinforce each other’s beliefs.
What did Moscovici & Zavalloni (1969) investigate surrounding group polarisation?
How group discussions influence individual attitudes and whether they lead to more extreme opinions.
Describe Moscovici & Zavalloni (1969) study surrounding group polarisation.
Participants were asked to express their opinions/attitudes on two topics.
- They gave their individual opinions on both topics.
- Then discussed in small groups and reached a collective opinion.
- Then reassessed their individual opinions after the group discussion.
What did Moscovici & Zavalloni (1969) find surrounding group polarisation?
- If individuals were initially positive about something, they became even more favourable.
- If they were initially negative, they become even more unfavourable.
Group discussions strengthened pre-existing tendencies.
What did Brauer, Judd & Jacquelin (2001) examine?
How group discussions influence attitudes toward social groups and whether they lead to greater polarisation.
Describe Brauer, Judd & Jacquelin (2001) study on group polarisation.
- The study focused on French high school students and their attitudes toward different social groups.
- Participants were divided into small groups based on their pre-existing attitudes toward a particular social group.
- Each group engaged in a discussion about that social group.
- Attitudes were measured before and after the discussion.
What did Brauer, Judd & Jacquelin (2001) find on group polarisation?
Group discussions led to stronger polarisation of opinions:
- If the group initially held positive views, discussion made them more favourable.
- If the group initially held negative views, discussion made them more unfavourable.
The effect was stronger when the group was more homogeneous.
Discussion doesn’t necessarily lead to moderation - it odten makes attitudes more extreme.
What did Isozaki (1985) investigate?
Whether group discussions influence individual judgements, particularly in recalling and interpreting past information.
Describe Isozaki (1985) study on global polarisation in judgements?
- Participants were asked to evaluate the guilt or innocence of a defendant in a hypothetical legal case.
- Each participant made an individual judgement based on provided case materials.
- They then discussed the case in small groups with the aim of reaching a group decision.
- Finally, participants were asked again to make an individual judgement after the discussion.
Describe Isozaki (1985) findings on global polarisation in judgements?
After group discussion, participants’ individual opinions became more extreme in the direction they initially learned.
- If they initially believed the defendant was guilty, they became even more certain of guilt.
- If they initially believed the defendant was innocent, they become even more convinced of innocence.
What conclusions were drawn from Isozaki (1985) study on global polarisation in judgements?
- Group polarisation occurs not just in attitudes and preferences, but also judgements, showing that discussion can reinforce and intensify perceptions of past events.
- It has implications for jury decision-making, showing how group discussions might lead to harsher or more lenient verdicts than individual judgements.
What is risky shift?
When a group makes riskier decisions than an individual would make on their own.
- Due to diffusion of responsibility, social influence, comaprison, etc.
- It is not universal.
- Depends on initial learning of the group.
What did Stoner (1961) want to test about risky shift?
Whether groups made more cuatious or riskier decisions compared to individuals.
What did Stoner (1961) find on risky shift?
- Initially, groups tend to choose riskier options than individuals.
- After group discussion, individuals also become more risk-seeing in their final decisions.
What are the nine team roles?
Action-oriented
- Shaper
- Implementer
- Completer finisher
People-oriented
- Coordinator
- Team worker
- Resource investigator
Thinking oriented
- Plant
- Monitor evaluator
- Specialist
What are action-oriented roles?
These roles focus on getting things done and ensuring productivity.
- E.g., launching a new product.
What are people-oriented roles?
These roles focus on team collaboration and external connections.
- E.g., a university group project.
What are thinking-oriented roles?
These roles focus on creativity, analysis and expertise.
- E.g. developing a scientific research paper.
What is leadership?
A process of social influence through which an individual enlists and mobilises the aid of others in the attainment of a collective goal.
What makes a good leader?
- Intelligence.
- Extroverted.
- Socially skilled.
- Confidence.
- Driven by desire for power.
- More charismatic.
- Less neurotic.
What is bad leadership?
A bad leader devalues others. They are indifferent to suffering and are intolerant of criticism.
What can lead to the failure of a leader?
- Arrogance.
- Lack of accountability.
- Poor decision-making.
What are derailment factors?
Certain personality traits can lead to leader failure, especially when under stress or pressure.
Based on Hogan’s personality mode, leaders can derail due to….
- Arrogance: Overconfidence.
- Volatility: Emotional instability.
- Cautiousness: Fear of taking risks.
- Mistrust: Suspicion and paranoia.
- Eccentricity: Erratic decisions.
When are leaders more likely to succeed?
When they balance strengths and weaknesses.
- Leaders who recognise their weaknesses and work on them are more likely to succeed.
- Balance of boldness and humility, confidence and openness to feedback.
What % of genes explain leadership positions?
32%
What is the role of the rs4950 gene?
It is associated with leadership emergence.
- Using twin studies and genetic databases, they estimated about 25% of leadership ability can be attributed to genetics.
What did Johnson et al. (2004) find on personality and leadership?
Traits like extraversion and openness, which are associated with leadership, have a strong genetic component.
What are the three types of leader (Lippitt & White, 1943)
- Autocratic.
- Democratic.
- Laissez-Faire.
What is an autocratic leader?
- Makes decisions independently.
- Gives strict orders.
- Expects obedience.
- Communication is one way from leader to followers.
High productivity, but only when the leader is present; low morale and creativity.
What is a democratic leader?
- The leader involves the group in making decisions.
- Encourages discussion, shared responsibility and cooperation.
- Communication flows both ways.
Moderate to high productivity, even when the leader is absent; higher motivation, creativity and satisfaction.
What is a laissez-faire leader?
- Leader provides little to no guidance.
- Allows group members to self-direct.
Low productivity and motivation unless the group is highly skilled and self-motivated; lack of structure can lead to confusion and inefficiency.
What are social role expectations?
Society holds expectations about how individuals should behave based on their social roles.
What is congruity/incongruity?
- When an individual’s characteristics align with societal role expectations, they are seen as more competent or suitable for that role.
- When there is a mismatch, negative biases arise.
What is descriptive prejudice?
Stereotypical beliefs about what individuals in a particular group are like.
What is prescriptive prejudice?
Expectations about how individuals should behave.
What is leadership bias?
Leadership roles are often steretyped as requiring assertiveness and dominance, which are traditionally associated with men.
What are the consequences of role incongruity?
- Women in leadership may be less likely to be hired or promoted.
- If women do adopt assertiveness and dominant traits, they may face negativity compared to men with the same behaviour.
This can contribute to lower motivation among women to pursue leadership roles.
What is the halo effect in jury decision making?
Physcially attractive defendants are perceived as more likeable, trustworthy, and less likely to commit a crime.
What is leniency bias in jury decision making?
Juries are more likely to acquit or recommend lighter sentences for attractive individuals.
How does crime type moderation affect jury decision making?
If the crim is related to attractiveness (e.g. fraud, seduction-based crime), jurors may be harsher.
How does race and ethnicity affect jury decision making?
Racial biases can influence verdicts. Defendants from minority backgrounds may face harsher judgements.
How does age affect jury decision making?
- Younger defendants may be perceived as more impulsive, but redeemable.
- Older defendants may be seen as more responsible and accountable.
How does socioeconomic status (SES) affect jury decision making?
- Higher SES defendants may be viewed as more credible and recieve favourable outcomes.
- Lower SES defendants may be associated with criminal stereotypes.
What is the chivalry hypothesis?
Female offenders often receive more lenient treatment, especially for non-violent crime, as jurors may see them as less threatening.
What is the double deviance theory?
Women who commit violent crimes may be judged more harshly because they violate both legal and gender norms.
How does crime-type influence jury decision making based on gender?
Male defendants are more likely to be convicted of violent crimes, while female defendants may receive harsher judgements in cases involving harm to children.
Why does cognitive overload affect jury decision making?
Too much complex or technical information can lead to jurors relying on heuristics rather than rational deliberation.
Why does primacy and recency effects affect jury decision making?
Information presented first and last tends to be most influential in decision making.
What is the story model theory in jury decision making?
Jurors construct a coherent narrative from the evidence; gaps in information may lead to reliance on personal biases.
How do personality traits affect jury decision making?
Authoritarian jurors:
- Tend to favour the prosecution and are more likely to convict.
Open-minded jurors:
- More likely to consider alternative explanations and acquit.
Experience with the legal system:
- May be more sceptical or biased.
Gender differences:
- Male jurors may be more punitive.
- Female jurors may show greater empathy.
How do juror beliefs affect jury decision making?
Belief in a just world:
- Jurors who think the world is always fair might blame the victim or assume the defendant deserves punishment, even in unclear cases.
Moral foundations:
- Conservative jurors might focus on punishment, while liberal jurors may care more about rehabilitation.
Stereotypes and cultural biases:
- Jurors’ personal prejudices can affect how they see evidence and judge witnesses.
