Responsibility attribution in groups and individuals: A direct test of the diffusion of responsibility hypothesis.

Abstract

Tested the major assumption of the diffusion of responsibility hypothesis (i.e. that group members involved in acts with negative consequences should attribute less responsibility to themselves than either individuals who experience negative consequences or groups or individuals who experience positive consequences). Using 80 male undergraduates, this assumption was tested in a 2 × 2 design in which individuals or groups gave advice that led to success or failure. Group failure Ss assumed less responsibility than Ss in the other 3 conditions. Furthermore, individual failure Ss rated the outcomes as less bad and saw themselves as having less influence over the advisee. Other areas of social psychological research in which the combination of responsibility and negative consequences seems to be a critical factor are discussed. (26 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)