SOCIAL LOAFING

Brian, a class colleague, is someone who counts on the group’s high achievers to do the majority of the work. This behavior is known as social loafing. Social loafers thrive because they know the high achievers cannot do less than their best; that is precisely what makes them high achievers. Adding to the problem, if it is the group product that is evaluated rather than individual contributions—then Brian will be less motivated to participate. That is why social loafing is rampant in university classrooms where grades are based on the finished group product.

For this Discussion, you examine methods to motivate social loafers.

RESOURCES

 

• Aronson, E., Wilson, T. D., Akert, R. M., & Sommers, S. R. (Eds.). (2019). Social psychology (10th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.
  • Chapter 9, “Group Processes: Influence in Social Groups”
• Note: Viewing media and interactives embedded in the electronic version of this course text is not required for this course.
• Underwood, M. K., & Ehrenreich, S. E. (2014). Bullying may be fueled by the desperate need to belong. Theory Into Practice,Links to an external site. 53(4), 265–270. doi:10.1080/00405841.2014.947217
• Sonnentag, T. L., & Barnett, M. A. (2013). An exploration of moral rebelliousness with adolescents and young adults. Ethics & BehaviorLinks to an external site., 23(3), 214–236. doi:10.1080/10508422.2012.739943
• Be sure to review the Learning Resources before completing this activity.
  Click the weekly resources link to access the resources.

WEEKLY RESOURCES

TO PREPARE

• Review the Learning Resources for this week and consider motivation methods that a social psychologist might use to encourage a social loafer to do his or her share.
• Recall a time when you observed social loafing.

BY DAY 4

Post a situation when you experienced or observed social loafing. Informed by social psychology theory, suggest ways to motivate social loafers to carry their weight.

BY DAY 6

Respond to at least one of your colleague’s posts and offer additional suggestions. Be sure they are informed by social psychology theory and research.

Be sure to support your postings and responses with specific references to the social psychology theory and research. In addition to the Learning Resources, search the Walden Library and/or Internet for peer-reviewed articles to support your post and responses. Use proper APA format and citations, including those in the Learning Resources.