Walt, Jesse, Mike, and Gus are business partners trying to decide whether they should invest in a risky new direction for their company. Jesse gets the feeling that his partners are leaning toward the...

Walt, Jesse, Mike, and Gus are business partners trying to decide whether they should invest in a risky new direction for their company. Jesse gets the feeling that his partners are leaning toward the risky option. In order to convince his partners that he is a valued member of the company and a “good” group member, Jesse speaks up in strong, public terms in favor of the risky decision, and he leaves the meeting even more convinced than he was before that they should take the risk. Jesse’s personal shift in the risky direction illustrates the _________ explanation for group polarization.

 a. social comparison

 b. counterattitudinal

c. persuasive arguments

d. social facilitation