Psychology
Social Loafing in Collaborative Work Environments
Quick fact
In the 1913 Ringelmann experiment, participants pulling on a rope alone exerted an average force of 85 kg, but in groups of eight, the average effort per person dropped to just 31 kg.
Why this is interesting
Have you ever found yourself slacking off during a group project while others did most of the work? If so, you’ve experienced a classic psychological phenomenon — but why does it happen?