The Effects of Experimentally Induced Illusions of Invulnerability and Vulnerability on Decisional Risk Taking in Triads

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Abstract
It was hypothesized that groups which perceive themselves as highly effective decision makers (invulnerable) will make more risky decisions than control groups (no illusions). It was also hypothesized that groups which perceive themselves as ineffective decision makers (vulnerable) will make more conservative decisions than the control groups. Ss were 63 undergraduate students (25 males, 38 females). Imaginary results of two bogus questionnaires were used to manipulate the groups' perception of their problem solving abilities. The Kogan and Wallach choice dilemma questionnaire was used to measure risk or conservative group decisions. Groups in the invulnerable condition had the highest mean risk scores, followed by control groups, while those in the vulnerable condition showed the lowest mean risk scores (p < .03). The results support the idea that group decision making abilities can become more risky or conservative by manipulating the groups' perception of those abilities.

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