Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow:-

Just as individuals compare themselves with others in terms of similarities and differences with respect to what they have and what others have, individuals also compare the group they belong to with groups of which they are not a member. 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 a bribe or engaging in some other unethical act. His/her colleagues are asked to decide what punishment he/she should be given. They may let him/her go scot-free or decide to terminate his/her services instead of imposing a punishment which may commensurate with the unethical act he/she had engaged in. Whatever the initial position in the group, this position becomes much stronger as a result of discussions and interaction in the group.

Identify the correct statements in reference to the influence of group on individual behavior:

(A) Individuals are more likely to take extreme decisions than the group.
(B) When you find others favouring your opinion, you feel that your view is being validated by the public
(C) When you find people having similar views, you are likely to perceive them as in-group and as a consequence your views get strengthened.
(D) Groups are more likely to take extreme decisions than individuals alone.

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

(B), (C) and (D) only

The correct answer is Option (2) → (B), (C) and (D) only

(A) Individuals are more likely to take extreme decisions than the group. (Incorrect). This statement contradicts both the passage and the principle of group polarization. The passage clearly states the opposite: groups are more likely to make extreme decisions.
(B) When you find others favouring your opinion, you feel that your view is being validated by the public (Correct).This is a core aspect of social validation. When others in a group agree with your viewpoint, you feel more confident that your stance is correct and widely accepted.
(C) When you find people having similar views, you are likely to perceive them as in-group and as a consequence your views get strengthened. (Correct). Finding similar views helps form this in-group, and the subsequent discussion within the group reinforces and strengthens those shared views.
(D) Groups are more likely to take extreme decisions than individuals alone. (Correct) as the passage clearly states that groups tend to take more extreme decisions than individuals acting alone.