Diffusion of Responsibility

Definition

Diffusion of responsibility refers to individuals feeling less responsible for taking action or making decisions when they are part of a group because they assume someone else will take on the responsibility.

Related terms

Social Loafing:

The phenomenon of individuals exerting less effort when working in a group than when working alone.

Groupthink:

A psychological phenomenon that occurs within a group of people, where the desire for harmony or conformity results in an irrational or dysfunctional decision-making outcome.

Collective Effervescence: A sociological concept that refers to the sense of energy and harmony people feel when they come together in a group around shared purpose.