Six people are competing in a tug-of-war competition. First, they compete as individuals, and then they compete as a team. It is
observed that when they are competing as a team their combined effort level is less than the sum of their individual efforts. In the context of group influence, this reduction in effort when competing as a team is most likely due to the effect of
In the context of group influence, this reduction in effort when competing as a team is most likely due to the effect of <em>social loafing</em>. Social loafing is the tendency of individuals to make less effort when they are part of a group. People tend to make less effort when the group wants to achieve a common goal. Each individual would put less effort into the group work than if the work were done individually.
