Question

According to Latané \((1981),\) social loafing is due to: A. social norms that stress the importance of positive interactions among group members. B. duplication of effort among group members. C. diffusion of responsibility in groups. D. a bias toward making internal attributions about the behavior

Short answer

Answer: The main cause of social loafing according to Latané (1981) is the diffusion of responsibility in groups.

Step-by-step solution

Understand Social Loafing

Social loafing refers to the phenomenon where individuals in a group exert less effort when working together on a task compared to when they work independently. This can lead to reduced productivity and overall group performance.

Review Latané's Theory

Latané (1981) conducted research on social loafing and developed a theory based on the concept of diffusion of responsibility. According to this theory, individuals in a group tend to perceive a lower level of personal responsibility for the outcome, leading to a decrease in their effort.

Evaluate the Answer Choices

To determine the correct answer, let's evaluate each choice in the context of Latané's theory on social loafing: A. Social norms that stress the importance of positive interactions among group members: While such norms may have an influence on group behavior, they are not the main reason for social loafing according to Latané. B. Duplication of effort among group members: Though duplication of effort may be a factor in reduced productivity in groups, it is not the main cause of social loafing identified by Latané. C. Diffusion of responsibility in groups: This answer choice directly aligns with Latané's theory of social loafing as it states that the primary reason behind it is the diffusion of responsibility in groups. D. A bias toward making internal attributions about the behavior of other group members: While attribution biases may affect group dynamics, they are not the primary cause of social loafing as proposed by Latané.

Select the Correct Answer

Based on the analysis of the answer choices, the correct answer is C. diffusion of responsibility in groups, as it best represents Latané's theory on social loafing.

Key concepts

Diffusion of Responsibility

Diffusion of responsibility is a key concept in understanding why social loafing occurs. When individuals work in a group, the sense of personal accountability diminishes. Everyone assumes someone else will pick up the slack, so they do less. This leads to everyone contributing less than they might if they were working alone.

Think of it as a team of people trying to push a car. If everyone thinks, "others are pushing, so I don't need to push as hard," the car might not move at all.

• Individual accountability is distributed.
• Each person feels less pressure to be productive.
• Collective output decreases as efforts decline.

Understanding this concept helps explain why sometimes groups perform less efficiently than expected.

Group Dynamics

Group dynamics is the set of psychological processes involved when people in a group interact. It plays a crucial role not only in social loafing, but in how groups function overall.

• When dynamics are positive, group members support and motivate each other.
• Negative dynamics can lead to conflict or reduced effort, such as social loafing.
• Stronger group dynamics often result in better outcomes and more engagement.

Understanding group dynamics can help create environments where all members feel responsible and therefore, more productive.

Latané's Theory

Latané's theory on social loafing focuses on the idea that people work less hard when part of a group because they feel less individually accountable. In his 1981 research, Latané demonstrated that when people share tasks, they tend to contribute less effort than when they do the same tasks alone.

This theory helps us understand:

• How accountability affects motivation and effort.
• Why equal distribution of responsibility may not always lead to efficient outcomes.
• The importance of creating systems for individual accountability within group settings.

This understanding is crucial for anyone trying to manage teams effectively.

Reduced Productivity in Groups

Reduced productivity in groups can often be attributed to the phenomenon of social loafing, among other factors. This happens when the overall output of a group is less than the sum of individual efforts, largely due to members not exerting their full potential.

• The feeling that others will handle the workload can lessen one's own efforts.
• Lack of personal responsibility dilutes focus and engagement.
• Providing individual goals or clear roles can help counteract low productivity.

Grasping how reduced productivity occurs can help in designing better team structures and more effective collaboration techniques.