Identify the statements related to group polarisation:
(A) In the company of like-minded people, you are likely to hear newer arguments favoring your viewpoint.
(B) When you find others also favoring your view point, you feel that your view is validated by others.
(C) The weakening of the group's initial position as a result of discussion with others is called group polarisation.
(D) In group polarisation, groups are more likely to take extreme decisions than individuals alone.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → (A), (B) and (D) only
(A) In the company of like-minded people, you are likely to hear newer arguments favoring your viewpoint. Correct. This is the first reason why group polarisation occurs: newer arguments in favour of your view make you more favourable towards it.
(B) When you find others also favoring your view point, you feel that your view is validated by others. Correct. This is the second reason: your view feels validated by the public, a sort of bandwagon effect.
(C) The weakening of the group’s initial position as a result of discussion with others is called group polarisation. Incorrect. Group polarisation is the strengthening, not the weakening, of the group’s initial position as a result of group interaction and discussion. Whatever the initial position, it becomes much stronger.
(D) In group polarisation, groups are more likely to take extreme decisions than individuals alone. Correct. This is the very finding the term describes: groups are more likely to take extreme decisions than individuals alone.
NCERT (2025-26): “Group Polarisation … It has been found that groups are more likely to take extreme decisions than individuals alone. Suppose there is an employee who has been caught taking bribe or engaging in some other unethical act. Her/his colleagues are asked to decide on what punishment s/ he should be given. They may let her/ him go scot-free or decide to terminate her/his services instead of imposing a punishment which may be commensurate with the unethical act s/ he had engaged in. Whatever the initial position in the group, this position becomes much stronger as a result of discussions in the group. This strengthening of the group’s initial position as a result of group interaction and discussion is referred to as group polarisation. This may sometimes have dangerous repercussions as groups may take extreme positions, i.e. from very weak to very strong decisions. 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:
|