SSC CGL 2025 Tier-I · 12 September 2025, Shift 3 · English Comprehension · Question 16 of 100

We transcribed this text from the pictures on a candidate's response sheet for this shift; the answer is the key SSC colour-marked on that sheet. Solution last reviewed 11 September 2026.

Read the following passage and answer the questions based on the passage :
Group thinking, often referred to as groupthink, is a psychological phenomenon wherein the desire for unanimity within a group overrides the motivation to appraise alternative viewpoints critically. It frequently leads to flawed decision-making because dissent is either internally suppressed or socially penalized. Social conformity, its close ally, describes the act of aligning one's beliefs or behaviours with those of a majority, often subconsciously, in pursuit of acceptance or avoidance of conflict. In tightly knit groups—such as corporate boards, political committees, or academic panels—individual members may refrain from expressing contrarian ideas, fearing ostracization or reputational risk. Over time, this collective homogeneity breeds intellectual stagnation, reducing innovation and enhancing vulnerability to strategic errors. The infamous Bay of Pigs invasion and the Challenger space shuttle disaster are frequently cited as textbook examples of decisions marred by groupthink. Psychologically, the roots of group conformity lie in our evolutionary inclination toward tribal belonging, where deviation was historically associated with survival risk. In modern society, the same instinct manifests through peer pressure, organizational culture, and digital echo chambers. Algorithms reinforce conformity by curating information bubbles that validate existing biases while filtering out divergent thought. However, the remedy to such cognitive myopia lies in institutionalizing dissent. Constructive disagreement, when encouraged within teams or communities, acts as an intellectual safeguard against tunnel vision. Promoting a culture where counterarguments are respected rather than reprimanded can lead to more robust, balanced, and resilient decision-making. In an age dominated by viral trends, polarized discourse, and performative alignment, the courage to question consensus is both rare and essential. True progress emerges not from blind allegiance to majority norms, but from critical inquiry and the audacity to challenge the comfortable.

According to the passage, what evolutionary trait contributes to social conformity?

(a)Hunger for dominance
(b)Need for speed
(c)Instinct for tribal survival
(d)Desire for luxury

Answer

Why

Correct — C. The passage names the trait in one sentence: the roots of group conformity lie in our evolutionary inclination toward tribal belonging, where deviation was historically associated with survival risk.

Tribal belonging plus survival risk is the instinct for tribal survival: the pull to stay with the group, because straying from it once meant danger — option (c).

Why the others are wrong

(a)
Hunger for dominance — Dominance is never mentioned. The passage ties conformity to belonging and to acceptance or avoidance of conflict — going along with a group, not ruling it.
(b)
Need for speed — Speed plays no part in the passage. The evolutionary root it names is tribal belonging, with deviation tied to survival risk.
(d)
Desire for luxury — Luxury does not appear. The passage roots conformity in survival, a basic need, and in the pursuit of acceptance, not comfort.

Concept

A detail question — According to the passage — is answered from one sentence. Take the question's key word, here evolutionary, find it in the passage, and read that sentence whole.

The word appears in the sentence beginning Psychologically, the roots of group conformity lie in our evolutionary inclination toward tribal belonging.

Pick the option that restates that sentence without adding anything to it.

The next sentence carries the same instinct into modern life: peer pressure, organizational culture and digital echo chambers. Those are its present-day forms, not the evolutionary trait the question asks for.

Key facts

The passage traces group conformity to an evolutionary inclination toward tribal belonging.
In that account, deviation from the group was historically associated with survival risk.
Its modern forms, per the passage: peer pressure, organizational culture and digital echo chambers.

Study next

Scanning for a question's key word to find the sentence that answers itSeparating a cause the passage names from the modern examples it givesParaphrase matching: inclination toward tribal belonging → instinct

Common traps

Picking dominance because tribes suggest hierarchy, when the passage says belonging
Answering from general knowledge of evolution instead of from the passage's sentence

Q.15 and Q.17 are set on the same passage, and each turns on a single sentence of it, as this one does.

Related PYQs

No directly related past PYQ was found.

Read the following passage and answer the questions based on the passage :
Group thinking, often referred to as groupthink, is a psychological phenomenon wherein the desire for unanimity within a group overrides the motivation to appraise alternative viewpoints critically. It frequently leads to flawed decision-making because dissent is either internally suppressed or socially penalized. Social conformity, its close ally, describes the act of aligning one's beliefs or behaviours with those of a majority, often subconsciously, in pursuit of acceptance or avoidance of conflict. In tightly knit groups—such as corporate boards, political committees, or academic panels—individual members may refrain from expressing contrarian ideas, fearing ostracization or reputational risk. Over time, this collective homogeneity breeds intellectual stagnation, reducing innovation and enhancing vulnerability to strategic errors. The infamous Bay of Pigs invasion and the Challenger space shuttle disaster are frequently cited as textbook examples of decisions marred by groupthink. Psychologically, the roots of group conformity lie in our evolutionary inclination toward tribal belonging, where deviation was historically associated with survival risk. In modern society, the same instinct manifests through peer pressure, organizational culture, and digital echo chambers. Algorithms reinforce conformity by curating information bubbles that validate existing biases while filtering out divergent thought. However, the remedy to such cognitive myopia lies in institutionalizing dissent. Constructive disagreement, when encouraged within teams or communities, acts as an intellectual safeguard against tunnel vision. Promoting a culture where counterarguments are respected rather than reprimanded can lead to more robust, balanced, and resilient decision-making. In an age dominated by viral trends, polarized discourse, and performative alignment, the courage to question consensus is both rare and essential. True progress emerges not from blind allegiance to majority norms, but from critical inquiry and the audacity to challenge the comfortable.