Answer to Question 1
When people discuss a topic with like-minded others, they often experience an
exaggeration of the initial tendencies in their thinking. For example, individuals who
enter a discussion with a slight preference for a risky course of action often leave that
discussion endorsing an even riskier position. This phenomenon is called group
polarization, for which at least two explanations have been proposed. (1) Persuasive
arguments theory suggests that people in a group discussion with like-minded others
hear novel informational arguments to support their initial views that then intensify
these views. (2) Social comparison theory suggests that once people get in a group,
they compare themselves with others and then adjust their own attitudes to be even
more typical of the group norm so that they appear to be good group members.
Answer to Question 2
1 . Production blocking. Having to wait their turn to speak, people may forget
their ideas, don't generate additional ideas until they can speak, or simply lose
interest.
2 . Free riding. As others contribute ideas, individuals see their own contributions
as less needed or less likely to have much impact. They therefore try less hard
and engage in social loafing.
3 . Evaluation apprehension. People may be hesitant to suggest unusual ideas for
fear of looking foolish and being criticized.
4 . Performance matching. Group members work only as hard as they see others
work. Once the other three factors above have reduced the performance of a
brainstorming group, performance matching can help maintain this relatively
inferior performance.
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