Author Question: What is group polarization and briefly describe its main effect? What are the two main mechanisms ... (Read 142 times)

savannahhooper · **on:** Jun 22, 2018

What is group polarization and briefly describe its main effect? What are the two main mechanisms involved, and describe them in detail?

What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Discuss bargaining as a method of conflict resolution. What is a key initial goal (and describe it) toward resolution? What are some of the tactics for reaching this goal? Some aspects of bargaining involve the orientation of the bargainers to the

bargaining process itself. What is meant by this? What is the term used to describe the outcome of this kind of bargaining?

fwbard · **Reply #1 on:** Jun 22, 2018

Answer to Question 1

Group polarization means that the initial leaning or preference of a group prior to its discussions will be strengthened during the group's interactions. This is caused by two basic psychological forces:
1) Social comparisonpeople want to be a good group member, so whatever is the prototypical opinion, they adopt an even better opinion (e.g., in a group of liberals, better would mean more liberal).
2) Arguments made during discussion are more likely to favor the group's initial preferencethus, a group member is going to repeatedly hear an appeal to a systematic examination, leading him or her to believe that is the correct view.

Answer to Question 2

You want to reduce the opponent's aspirations (i.e., they are convinced it can't get everything it wants). To do this, 1) begin with an offer very favorable to your side, 2) then convince the opponent that your break-even point is much higher than it is (so the opponent will offer more), and finally, 3) convince the other side you can go elsewhere and get better terms. People often approach negotiations from a win-lose standpoint, but a win-win approach produces better results. In this approach, both sides come away with something of value, often saving face for bargainers. A bargain reached this way is termed an integrative agreement.