In the company of like minded people, when our view is favoured and v…

In the company of like minded people, when our view is favoured and validated by the public then it is a sort of ________ effect.

Answer & explanation

Correct answer: option 4

The correct answer is Option (4) → Bandwagon

Option (1) Compliance — Incorrect. Compliance means behaving in a particular way in response to a request made by someone, even without agreeing, as when a person signs a letter only because a friend asked. In the question nobody requests anything; the person’s own view is only confirmed.

Option (2) Conformity — Incorrect. Conformity means behaving according to the group norm, the expectations of other members. When like-minded people are seen as an ingroup, a person begins to conform, and this is a separate reason why views grow stronger. The question speaks of a view being validated by the public, not of following a norm.

Option (3) Obedience — Incorrect. Obedience is carrying out an order or instruction of a person in authority, as when students stop talking loudly because the teacher asks them to. No authority figure appears in the question.

Option (4) Bandwagon — Correct. In the company of like-minded people, when you find others also favouring your view, you feel that this view is validated by the public; this is a sort of bandwagon effect. It is one of the three reasons for group polarisation, the tendency of a group to take more extreme positions after discussion.

Note 1: The concepts in Options (1) and (3), ‘compliance’ and ‘obedience’, were there in the pre-rationalised NCERT, which NTA followed in 2023, and are not there in the NCERT book (2025-26).

Note 2: A similar question was also asked in CUET (UG) 2023 on 22-06-2023 (Slot 3).

Note 3: A similar question was also asked in CUET (UG) 2025 on 16-05-2025 (Slot 1), 20-05-2025 (Slot 1) and 28-05-2025 (Slot 1), and in CUET (UG) 2026 on 15-05-2026 (Slot 1) and 31-05-2026 (Slot 1).

NCERT (2025-26): “Group Polarisation … Why does group polarisation occur? Let us take an example whether capital punishment should be there. Suppose you favour capital punishment for heinous crimes, what would happen if you were interacting with and discussing this issue with like-minded people? After this interaction, your views may become stronger. This firm conviction is because of the following three reasons:

In the company of like-minded people, you are likely to hear newer arguments favouring your viewpoints. This will make you more favourable towards capital punishment.
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.…”

In the company of like minded people, when our view is favoured and validated by the public then it is a sort of ________ effect.

Answer & explanation

Correct answer: option 4

The correct answer is Option (4) → Bandwagon

Note 2: A similar question was also asked in CUET (UG) 2023 on 22-06-2023 (Slot 3).

In the company of like-minded people, you are likely to hear newer arguments favouring your viewpoints. This will make you more favourable towards capital punishment.
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.…”