1. PART A: Which of the following best describes a central idea of the text? [RI.2]
a) Mob mentality only overtakes those who do not have a strong sense of self.
b) Recent studies have shown that groups create a false sense of purpose and
drive.
c) Group inclusion can cause people to lose a sense of their morals and become
more likely to do wrong.
d) People can overcome their instincts to do harm to outsiders if they are
reminded of the effects of mob mentality.

2. PART B: Which of the following quotes best supports the answer to Part A? [RI.1]
a) “Groups create important social institutions that an individual could not achieve alone.” (Paragraph 1)
b) “...when people are in groups, they 'lose touch' with their own morals and beliefs, and become more likely to do things that they would normally believe are wrong.” (Paragraph 4)
c) “Those people were more likely to harm their competitors than people who did not exhibit this decreased brain activity.” (Paragraph 5)
d) “When someone is re ecting on himself or herself, this part of the brain lights up in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) brain scans.” (Paragraph 10)

3. How did Cikara’s experience in the baseball game inform her understanding of mob [RI.3] mentality?
a) Cikara realized that a few factors, such as being a woman, will save a person from the negative consequences of mob mentality.
b) Cikara was harassed by Yankees fans for her husband’s Rex Sox cap and learned that by removing the visual difference cue (i. e. the cap) she could effectively use the mob mentality.
c) Cikara discovered that passive resistance was the only way to take power from the mob mentality.
d) Cikara experienced the “us versus them” part of mob mentality, eliciting a strong reaction despite the minor point of con ict (i. e. a baseball cap).

4. PART A: Which of the following best explains the concept of “getting lost” in a group? [RI.4]
a) “Getting lost” refers to an actual loss of memory experienced after being immersed in a group for too long.
b) “Getting lost” refers to the sense of emotional loss one experiences when no longer connected to a group.
c) “Getting lost” refers to the sensation of losing one’s self in a group and even after, shortly a ecting memory and self-image.
d) “Getting lost” refers to the lack of direction one feels after participating in a mob.

5. PART B: Which phrase from the article best supports the answer to Part A? [RI.4]
a) "had more di culty remembering the moral statements they had heard during the game" (Paragraph 16)
b) "that ability is somehow undermined when you’re competing with a group" (Paragraph 17)
c) "should have poor memory associated with that reduction in medial prefrontal cortex signal" (Paragraph 17)
d) "whether people are slower to recognize themselves or pick themselves out of a photo lineup after being absorbed in a group activity" (Paragraph 18)

Discussion Questions
Directions: Brainstorm your answers to the following questions in complete sentences.
1. List 3 historical and/or current examples of mob mentality?

2. In the context of this article, why do people do bad things? Use evidence from this article, your own experience, and other art, literature, or history in your answer