Describe the process that led psychologists from understanding the "risky shift" to understanding that same phenomenon as a more general "group polarization" process

What will be an ideal response?

• Possible Response Points
• Early research found that groups tended to make riskier decisions than individuals. This finding was dubbed the "risky shift.".
• Thereafter, exceptions to that rule began to create confusion. Sometimes researchers found groups could be more cautious than individuals. This was dubbed the "conservative shift" or "stingy shift.".
• Later studies identified a more correct principle. They demonstrated that groups tended to shift toward a more extreme version of whatever tendency they already had. If a group leaned towards caution, a group decision would be far more conservative than if the average individual decision were taken. If a group leaned toward risk, they would make a riskier joint decision than individuals.
• This new, more accurate principle was called group polarization for the polarizing effects of group discussion and interaction on decision making.