托福口语 Task 3

Social loafing is a phenomenon in which individuals exert less effort when working in a group than when working alone. This reduction in motivation often occurs because individuals feel their contributions are less identifiable or less critical to the overall outcome. Social loafing can undermine group productivity and is more likely to occur in large groups or when tasks are simple and repetitive. Researchers have identified that making individual contributions visible and providing specific feedback can reduce this effect.

Professor: Now, let me give you a classic example from a study. In a tug-of-war experiment, researchers measured how hard people pulled on a rope. When individuals pulled alone, they exerted an average force of about 85 kilograms. However, when they were asked to pull as part of a four-person team, the average force per person dropped to about 65 kilograms. Interestingly, participants reported that they felt they were pulling as hard as they could. The researchers explained that because each person’s effort was anonymous within the group, individuals felt less personal responsibility for the team’s result. They simply relaxed a bit, assuming others would compensate. This clearly demonstrates social loafing—people reducing their effort when they believe their contribution cannot be separately evaluated.