What effect does social loafing have on group tasks?

Social loafing occurs when individuals in a group exert less effort than they would if they were working alone, primarily because they feel less accountable for the outcome. This reduction in personal responsibility often leads to a decline in the overall quality of group tasks, as some members may rely on others to pick up the slack. When people are aware that they are part of a group, they may assume that their individual contributions are less critical, which contributes to the phenomenon of decreased individual accountability. This can ultimately result in a situation where the group does not achieve its full potential, since some individuals might not be putting forth their best efforts.

In contrast, the other responses highlight outcomes that are generally associated with effective collaboration and teamwork, which do not align with the realities of social loafing. Enhancing group dynamics and encouraging collaborative efforts usually require active participation and accountability from all group members, which is precisely what social loafing undermines.