Final answer:
The tendency for groups to make decisions that are more extreme than individual members would make alone is known as group polarization. This is distinct from groupthink, which involves conforming opinions to perceived group consensus.
Step-by-step explanation:
The tendency for groups to make decisions that are more extreme than the decisions that would be made by the members acting alone is known as group polarization. Group polarization is the strengthening of an original group attitude after discussing views within a group. This phenomenon can lead to more extreme decisions in group settings and can be observed in various settings such as political conventions and among individuals who might not support certain views when alone. Conversely, groupthink is a related but distinct concept where group members modify their opinions to match what they believe is the group consensus, often leading to poor decision-making due to the suppression of dissenting viewpoints and critical thinking.
To avoid groupthink, it's recommended to seek outside opinions, vote in private, have leaders withhold their opinions until all group members have spoken, conduct research on all viewpoints, weigh the costs and benefits of options, and develop contingency plans. Cognitive dissonance and the covariation principle are different concepts related to belief and attribution processes and do not directly describe the tendency for extreme decisions in group settings.