Josephine Is Sitting on a Jury Whose Task Is to Decide

question 216

Multiple Choice

Josephine is sitting on a jury whose task is to decide whether or not to give the defendant a life sentence in prison. Most of the members of the jury feel the defendant can be rehabilitated and feel a twenty-year sentence would be appropriate. However, after listening to some of the members express their opinions about how detrimental prison life can be, the jury finally recommends a sentence of only ten years. In this case, which psychological principle may have shaped the opinion?

• A)Social facilitation
• B)Group polarization
• C)Social loafing
• D)Groupthink

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