Question

Mr. Jones is a member of the faculty committee on academic standards at a local private school. He personally disagrees with the other committee members' proposed plan to begin accepting students with below-average grades. Mr. Jones is most likely, however, to vote in favor of their plan if

a. the other committee members are unanimous in their opinion.
b. he stated his personal opinion early in the committee's discussion.
c. committee voting is done by private ballot.
d. he has a high level of self-esteem.
e. he personally dislikes the other committee members and wishes he were on a more prestigious college committee.

Answer 1

Mr. Jones is likely to conform to a unanimous committee decision or if voting privately. High self-esteem may enable him to vote according to his beliefs, regardless of peer pressure.

Step-by-step explanation:

Mr. Jones is a member of the faculty committee on academic standards at a local private school. Considering various scenarios in decision-making, Mr. Jones is most likely to vote in favor of the plan to accept students with below-average grades if: the other committee members are unanimous in their opinion. This situation reflects the concept of conformity, where individuals often align with the majority view, particularly if they are the sole dissenter. Group dynamics suggest that having the support of even one more dissenter drastically reduces the likelihood of conformity. However, if committee voting is by private ballot, Mr. Jones might feel more comfortable voting according to his true beliefs without fear of peer pressure. Having a high level of self-esteem might also empower an individual to stand by their principles regardless of majority opinion. Factors like personal dislikes or aspirations to join a more prestigious committee are less likely to have a direct influence on decision-making if Mr. Jones values his role and responsibilities within the current committee.