Read the passage and answer the following questions:
It is generally seen that important decisions are taken by groups and not by individuals alone. For example, a decision had to be taken regarding corruption charges against an employee. Johnson was an employee working as an Assistant Manager in a pharma company. He joined this company in 2020 and has proven his mettle by his performance and commitment. One day he was caught red-handed by a senior official of the company while he was taking bribes from a client for some favor. This news spread like fire in the company. A high level committee consisting of 5 members was set up to look into the matter. There had been precedence when demotion was awarded as a punishment in similar cases. Initially, when the inquiry was set up, every member was of the view of downgrading his current rank. But one member shared his/her view about his termination. Over the discussions, it was found that every member developed an opinion about Johnson's termination from the services. It is a general tendency that when one's view is favoured by others, the person feels like his view is validated by the public. In this matter, the committee finally announced his termination.
Which of the following is NOT an example of group polarisation?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → Personal decision not to participate in the school prayer
Group polarisation is the strengthening of a group’s initial position through discussion, so that groups take more extreme decisions than individuals alone. An example must therefore be a decision taken by a group, usually a strong one.
Option (1) Discipline committee’s decision on expulsion of a student from the school for his/her conduct — An example (Incorrect). A committee decides together, and expulsion is the most extreme penalty a school can give.
Option (2) Group consent on the implementation of capital punishment — An example (Incorrect). Like-minded people who favour capital punishment become more favourable towards it after discussing it together; this is the very case used to explain why polarisation occurs.
Option (3) A board’s decision to terminate the service of an employee for a minor mistake — An example (Incorrect). Termination for a minor mistake is a punishment far beyond what the act deserves, the kind of extreme decision a group reaches through discussion, as in Johnson’s case.
Option (4) Personal decision not to participate in the school prayer — Not an example (Correct). This is a decision taken by one individual alone. There is no group, no discussion and no shift of a group’s position, so polarisation does not come into it.
NCERT (2025-26): “Group Polarisation … Groups show another tendency referred to as ‘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.…” “Group Polarisation … 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.…” |