University students were observed to pull harder on a rope when they thought they were pulling alone than when they thought three others were pulling with them on the same rope. This best illustrates

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The phenomenon described in the scenario is social loafing, which occurs when individuals tend to put forth less effort in a group setting because they believe their individual contributions will not be noticed. This is why the students pulled harder when they thought they were alone, as they felt more responsible for the success of the task. Social facilitation, on the other hand, refers to the tendency for individuals to perform better on simple tasks in the presence of others, while group polarization occurs when group discussion leads to more extreme opinions or attitudes. The chameleon effect refers to the tendency for individuals to unconsciously mimic the nonverbal behavior of those around them.

University Students Were Observed to Pull Harder on a Rope