PrepTest 125, Section 1, Question 25
In principle, a cohesive group—one whose members generally(440 more words not shown)
In the passage, the author(11 more words not shown)
- AEnforced conformity may(7 more words not shown)
- BA high degree(10 more words not shown)
- CInappropriate group conformity(5 more words not shown)
- DVoluntary conformity occurs(6 more words not shown)
- EMembers of noncohesive(7 more words not shown)
Reading the passage
Conformity means going along with the group. Cohesion means that members generally trust and support one another. Those ideas are related here, but they aren't interchangeable.
What we’re looking for
The question asks what the author says about conformity, so let's check the actual claims rather than assume every form of going along must be groupthink.
Working the answers
- A
The author describes pressure to comply but doesn't endorse enforced conformity as appropriate.
- B
Military decision making appears among the researchers' examples of fiascoes. We aren't told what degree of conformity military group members are generally expected to display.
- C
The groupthink problem is a failure to examine proposals and heed warnings. That's different from simply lacking adequate information.
- D
No comparison tells us how frequently voluntary and enforced conformity occur.
- ECorrect
This brings us back to the first paragraph, before groupthink is introduced. When cohesion is low, people may comply because they fear recrimination. Think of the employee who won't challenge a proposal because doing so could threaten their standing. That is psychological pressure to conform, even though the group lacks cohesion. Conformity therefore isn't limited to groups whose members genuinely trust one another's judgment.
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