Question

A group of children were trick or treating on a Halloween night. In one of the houses, the candy bowl was kept open for the children to take a candy from. Even though, most of these children were warned to take only one candy, very few adhered to the rules. It was observed that children covering their faces under masks or make-up were more likely to pick up extra candy. Do you think this is an example of deindividuation, group facilitation, polarization or group think? Explain why you chose the answer.

Answer 1

Children taking more candy while wearing masks or makeup is an example of deindividuation. This psychological state involves a sense of anonymity and diminished accountability within a group, leading to behaviors not typical if the individual were identifiable.

Step-by-step explanation:

The behavior observed among the children on Halloween night is an example of deindividuation. This psychological state occurs when an individual feels a sense of anonymity and diminished accountability due to being part of a group. In the context of wearing masks or makeup, children are more likely to feel anonymous and, as a result, may feel less responsible for adhering to social norms, such as only taking one candy, leading to taking more than what was permitted.

Deindividuation can lead to actions that an individual ordinarily would not engage in if they were alone or clearly identifiable. This concept is distinct from group facilitation, polarization, or groupthink, as it specifically involves a loss of self-awareness and a decrease in the fear of negative evaluation by others. In contrast, group facilitation involves performance improvement in the presence of others, polarization refers to the tendency for group discussion to intensify group opinion, and groupthink describes poor decision-making within a group due to the desire for harmony and conformity.

Answer 2

Correct Answer: Group think

Step-by-step explanation:

Group think is the psychological phenomenon that occurs within a group of people in which the desire for harmony leads to an irrational decision-making outcome.

In the Halloween night, for the children covering their faces to pick up extra candy shows that it is an example of group think. Because, they will believe that, no one would be able to see their faces when they picked it in comparison to those children who did not cover their faces.