A teacher divides a class into a pro-capital punishment group and an anti-capital punishment group on the basis of a short attitude scale, and each group discusses a recent death sentence case in a separate room. Match each observation from the pro group in List-I with what it shows in List-II.
List-I | List-II |
(A) A student says, "That is a reason I had not thought of; now I favour it even more." | (I) Group polarisation |
(B) A student says, "Everyone here agrees with me, so most people must think this way." | (II) Hearing newer arguments |
(C) A student says, "We are the pro side; I will stand with my side on this." | (III) Identifying with the ingroup and showing conformity |
(D) The second attitude scale shows the group more firmly in favour than at the start | (IV) Bandwagon effect |
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → A-II, B-IV, C-III, D-I
| List-I | List-II | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| (A) A student says, "That is a reason I had not thought of; now I favour it even more." | (II) Hearing newer arguments | Among like-minded people, a student hears newer arguments that favour her view. A reason she had not thought of makes her more favourable, which is this first cause of polarisation. |
| (B) A student says, "Everyone here agrees with me, so most people must think this way." | (IV) Bandwagon effect | Finding that others hold the same view makes the student feel the view is validated by the public. Believing that most people think this way is the bandwagon effect. |
| (C) A student says, "We are the pro side; I will stand with my side on this." | (III) Identifying with the ingroup and showing conformity | Seeing people with similar views, the student treats them as the ingroup. Standing with her side shows she identifies with the group and conforms to it. |
| (D) The second attitude scale shows the group more firmly in favour than at the start | (I) Group polarisation | A firmer position on the second scale shows the group's initial position has become stronger after discussion. This strengthening through group interaction is group polarisation. |
NCERT (2026-27): “Key Terms … “• When you find others also favouring capital punishment, you feel that this view is validated by the public. This is a sort of bandwagon effect.” “• When you find people having similar views, you are likely to perceive them as ingroup. You start identifying with the group, begin showing conformity, and as a consequence your views become strengthened.” “Give the class a short, 5-item attitude scale developed by your teacher to assess attitudes towards capital punishment. Based on their responses, divide the class into two groups, i.e. those pro-capital punishment and those anti-capital punishment. Now seat these groups into two different rooms and ask them to discuss a recent case in which death sentence has been given by the court. See how the discussion proceeds in the two groups. After the discussion, re-administer the attitude scale to the group members. Examine if, in both groups, positions have hardened in comparison to their initial position as a result of group discussion.” |