Directions: The following is your first exam. Please answer the following 10 questions in complete
sentences. Be as thorough as possible. The goal of this assignment is to gauge how much you
understand concepts from the material. The plagiarism review will be turned on for this assignment.
Please use your own words to answer all of these questions. No copying and pasting. Submit your
answers to this word doc and then upload it on the Exam 1 assignment tab. Answers MUST be
submitted to this sheet! 10 points
1) After watching The Wave, explain at least 3 symptoms of groupthink that are exhibited in the
movie and how they are exhibited.
Self-censorship
MIndguards
Illusion of Unanimity
2) Explain how the political bell curve works and, in your opinion, does a 2 party system in the
United States make sense or not?
A political bell curve show the spectrum of political belief in the United States. The highest being
in the middle of the curve. A two party system in the US makes sense personally, since there are
sub-groups within those two parties. Everyone within the parties agree on the main point of the
party, but may differentiate on other points.
3) In your own words, give examples of the following terms.
a. Radicalism: abolition of slavery; the foundation of society changed once African-
Americans were freed
b. Socialism: Some example would be Medicaid, Section 8, Food Stamps. Government
assistance to better help citizens than that of private corps/wealthy.
c. Conservatism: Bill of rights; a tradition and structured format that the US follows and
upholds. Another route could be believing in tradition marriage of to two people of
the opposite sex.
d. Cognitive Dissonance : drinking alcohol; it’s bad for our health and liver but we drink it
when out and having fun.
e. Power: Rich/Poor, one has more power to get the things they want and to keep of
things they do not want from happening. Whether influencing those around them or
with money.
f. Influence: celebrities; they can sway people into buying certain brands and follow
different things/people.
g. Authority: Manager; if you work below a manager, you have to follow their rules and
their decision within that work place.
h. Occum’s Razor (explain what it is and how some people go against it in modern
politics.). Its’ when you find the simplest explanation for thing that occur. I current
example could be the pandemic and how it started. The simple answer is a virus that
started in east Asia but people have come up all different explanations.
4) What are and how are they applied to political thought?Heuristics
Heuristics is when our brain allows us to make a decision or judgement quickly without much thought
or effort. It can apply to politics when, listening or seeing other parties views. An individual may
quickly dismiss or accept what a party Is saying based on their heuristics and what appeals to them.
5) Why did Dr. Ross decide to conduct his experiment?
I believe that Dr. Ross conduct his experiment to show his students, the whole school and facility that
terrible things can happen to a large group of people and still fall under radar of others. The question
from the female student igniting his will to do so.
6) Explain the concept and why it is a negative aspect of groupthink.self-censorship
It’s when withholds their different views of what the group may be thinking and doesn’t speak
up. It is negative aspect as it doesn’t allow for there to be transparency in the group.
7) Explain the concept of and how it is different from self-censorship?preference falsification
Preference falsification is when your preferences don’t align with the group but you pick or
say something everyone in that group will concur with. Unlike self-censorship, the person is
speaking up but not letting their preference be known ultimately following the group.
8) Explain what are and how they are used by politicians.platitudes
It is like a saying with good attentions that is often over used. They are used to uplift or show
moral. It can be used in politics for propaganda or speeches.
9) In your own words, explain what confirmation bias is and how it can be toxic when forming
political opinions?
Confirmation bias is when a person is searching for information that proves or aligns with
their personal beliefs. This can be toxic to politics in the way that the individual is searching
for personal affirmation instead of keeping an open outlook and seeing different angles.
10) In your own words, explain what an anchoring bias is and how it can be toxic when forming
political opinions.
Anchoring bias is when a person relies heavily on the first piece of information they learn about a
subject or situation. They based everything they learn on this first piece of information and whether it
aligns. This can be toxic when dealing with politics because, this person or persons are listening to new
information with an open mind but are keeping the first thing they heard as a base of judgement.
