According to Latané \((1981),\) social loafing is due to: A. social norms that stress the importance of positive interactions among group members. B. duplication of effort among group members. C. diffusion of responsibility in groups. D. a bias toward making internal attributions about the behavior

Social loafing refers to the phenomenon where individuals in a group exert less effort when working together on a task compared to when they work independently. This can lead to reduced productivity and overall group performance.

Latané (1981) conducted research on social loafing and developed a theory based on the concept of diffusion of responsibility. According to this theory, individuals in a group tend to perceive a lower level of personal responsibility for the outcome, leading to a decrease in their effort.

To determine the correct answer, let's evaluate each choice in the context of Latané's theory on social loafing: A. Social norms that stress the importance of positive interactions among group members: While such norms may have an influence on group behavior, they are not the main reason for social loafing according to Latané. B. Duplication of effort among group members: Though duplication of effort may be a factor in reduced productivity in groups, it is not the main cause of social loafing identified by Latané. C. Diffusion of responsibility in groups: This answer choice directly aligns with Latané's theory of social loafing as it states that the primary reason behind it is the diffusion of responsibility in groups. D. A bias toward making internal attributions about the behavior of other group members: While attribution biases may affect group dynamics, they are not the primary cause of social loafing as proposed by Latané.

Based on the analysis of the answer choices, the correct answer is C. diffusion of responsibility in groups, as it best represents Latané's theory on social loafing.