Final answer:
The scenario least likely to lead to groupthink is when a juror persistently disagrees with the jury's consensus, as this person's dissent encourages critical evaluation and disrupts group uniformity. Strategies to avoid groupthink include seeking external opinions and ensuring diverse viewpoints are considered. Group polarization, while related, enhances prevailing viewpoints and leads to more extreme decisions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The scenario least likely to proceed to a groupthink decision is c) a juror persistently disagrees with the rest of the jury's consensus. Groupthink occurs when individuals within a group strive for consensus without critically evaluating alternative viewpoints. In situations where a single person stands against the prevailing opinion, this critical evaluation is more likely to occur, disrupting the uniformity that characterizes groupthink.
To avoid groupthink, several strategies are recommended. These include seeking outside opinions, voting in private, and the leader withholding their opinions until all group members have voiced their views. Ensuring that all viewpoints are researched, the costs and benefits of all options weighed, and developing a contingency plan are also effective means of preventing groupthink.
On the other hand, group polarization can occur when a group reinforces the dominant viewpoint after discussing an issue amongst themselves. This leads to more extreme decisions but is not the same as groupthink, where the desire for harmony in a decision-making group suppresses dissenting opinions and critical thinking.