Social loafing is the tendency for individuals to expend less effort when working collectively. Social loafing directly challenges the assumption that the productivity of the group as a whole should at least equal the sum of the productivity of the individuals in it, no matter what the group size. What causes social loafing? It may be a belief that others in the group are not carrying their fair share. If you see others as lazy or inept, you can reestablish equity by reducing your effort.

Because group results cannot be attributed to any single person, the relationship between an individual’s input and the group’s output is clouded. Individuals may be tempted to become free riders and coast on the group’s efforts. The implications for organizational behavior are significant. When managers use collective work situations, they must also be able to identify individual efforts. Social loafing appears to be consistent with individualist cultures that are dominated by self-interest. It is not consistent with collectivist societies, in which individuals are motivated by group goals.