Which effect describes individuals giving less effort when working as part of a group?

The correct answer is the social loafing effect. This phenomenon occurs when individuals contribute less effort in a group setting compared to when they are working alone. This behavior often arises because group members may feel less accountable for the effort put into the task, believing that their lack of contribution will go unnoticed. As a result, responsibility is diffused among all members, leading to a reduction in overall effort.

Understanding social loafing is crucial in various contexts, especially in team dynamics and collaborative environments, as it can impact the effectiveness and efficiency of group efforts. Recognizing this effect can help in developing strategies to encourage individual accountability within teams, ensuring that everyone contributes fairly to shared goals.

The other concepts, such as social facilitation, typically refer to improved performance on tasks when individuals are in the presence of others, while the collective effort principle and group performance effect pertain to how group size and dynamics influence productivity but do not specifically denote the decrease in effort characteristic of social loafing.