Social Influence and Group Processes
2 Board Psychology previous year questions on Social Influence and Group Processes — options free on every question; 1 include the answer & explanation free, the rest unlock with PYQ Pass.
A peaceful audience at a sports event suddenly turns into a frenzied mob following a controversial decision by the referee. Which factors are likely responsible for this transformation?
The polarisation of attention and shared emotions among the audience
A crowd is a collection of people who are physically close and share a common focus of attention. In a sports event, spectators are already emotionally involved in the performance of their team.
When the referee makes a controversial decision:
1. Polarisation of Attention
The attention of all spectators becomes focused on a single event—the referee's decision. This common focus intensifies reactions and makes people more responsive to the behaviour of others.
2. Shared Emotions
Members of the crowd begin to experience similar emotions such as anger, frustration, or disappointment. These emotions spread rapidly from one person to another.
3. Emotional Contagion
Strong emotions can spread quickly through a crowd. As more people express anger, others become influenced and react similarly.
4. Group Influence
Individuals in a crowd often feel less personally responsible for their actions and become more likely to follow the behaviour of the group.
As a result, a peaceful audience may transform into an aggressive or frenzied mob.
A company is forming a new committee to plan a major event. To ensure effective collaboration, they want the committee to function as a primary group. Which of the following strategies would best support this goal?
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