Social Loafing Is a Thing
It may be innocent when you're on a tandem bike but deadly when applied to group think
When I was a kid we worked round the house most weekends. Dad assigned projects.
Cut the grass. Rake the yard. Clean the driveway.
If the project was bigger, like painting the house or fixing the car, it was a family project, and much like a surgical nurse, I was there to support my Dad.
- Get the green paint. Open it up and fill my paint bucket.
- Hand me a 9/16 wrench. No, I said 9/16th this is a 5/8th.
And on and on.
On big projects my friend that lived down the street would ask to come help. The thinking was we could double up on the work and get to play time faster. But Dad never allowed it.
His theory:
If you have one boy working you have one boy working. If you have two boys working you have half a boy working. ~ a Dad-ism.
Dad aside there are multiple test and studies on the phenomenon. People work less hard when they are in groups.
It’s called social loafing.
Put people on a tandem bike or a two-person kayak and each person is apt to spend less energy than if they were by themselves.
Go to a restaurant by yourself and you will spend less money than if you go with a group of four or more. The larger the group the more you will spend as an individual.
Donating money? If you donate anonymously you will donate less money than if your donation is public.
Even cheering for your team. Fans cheered less loudly once the group reached six. And even less as the group added another six. And less with each succeeding group.
People tend to conserve energy. It’s in our DNA. You’ll need that burst when you walk around a corner and come face-to-face with a Saber-tooth Tiger. So when we can, we rest.
This is fine in most cases and easily remedied.
Put checks and balances on individuals.
Break groups into smaller groups where accountability is more obvious.
Create goals to reward group output
But social loafing can be deadly when applied to group think. It can start wars and cover up crimes.
What is group think?
Simply, it’s the practice of decision making as a group that discourages creativity, individual responsibility, and discourages independent thought.
A charismatic leader can use these group dynamics to push through an idea or theory that as individuals we would never consider.
Examples of the dangers of group think:
Believing the group is morally right and can do no wrong - this leads to cover ups such as Penn State scandal
Shielding group leaders from any dissenting thoughts - leading to a team of “yes men.”
Holding onto negative stereotypes and creating an “us against them” attitude towards all outsiders
Can create the “I was just following orders” excuse.
Believing that the end justifies the means in achieving group goals
As groups grow individuals tend to get quieter.
Speak up. Speak out.
You may save the group.
Think About It…
The group needs you to be yourself. Society needs you to be yourself. The world needs you to be yourself.
The first duty of humans is to think for themselves.
But there’s a catch.
The group should think of the individual’s rights. The individual should think of society first.
And a corporation should think of society, it’s community, and it’s workforce along with it’s profit goals. Long term corporate success cannot be achieved without community success.
Do It…
I’m Creed-ing it this weekend.
And sleeping in on Sunday morning. I’ll loose an hour to daylight savings time - remember to move teh clock forward one hour before you go to bed on Saturday night - so I’ll sleep a little later than normal.
But when I’ll make this egg casserole for the family.
Ciao.