Which statement about maintenance roles is accurate?

• A. They are self-serving.
• B. They always stress the here and now.
• C. They promote autocratic leadership.
• D. They help maintain the group.

Answer: (D)

Maintenance roles focus on the group's social-emotional health and functioning, not on getting the tasks done. These roles help keep the group cohesive by smoothing conflicts, encouraging quieter members to participate, and supporting clear norms and a positive climate. Because of that, they genuinely help maintain the group as a functioning unit.

The other descriptions don’t fit as well. Maintenance roles aren’t self-serving—they’re about the group’s well-being, not individual gain. They aren’t limited to stressing the here and now; they also address ongoing dynamics, relationships, and norms that sustain the group over time. And they don’t promote autocratic leadership; maintenance behaviors tend to be collaborative and facilitative, aimed at supporting everyone in the group.