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.

Analogy

It's like being part of a group project in school. If there are ten people in your group, you might feel less pressure to contribute because you think one of the other nine members will do the work.

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.