Who’s Really Doing the Work? The Impact of Group Size on Over-Claiming of Responsibility

Abstract

People often believe that they do more than their fair share of work. This tendency plays out across daily life, from married couples to workplace collaborations. While the inclination to “over-claim” credit is pervasive and has potentially serious consequences, little is known about the factors that make it more or less likely to occur. This article considers two predictors—group size and the role of indirect participants, such as supervisors, teachers, coaches, and office assistants—on the phenomenon known as over-claiming. It offers practical steps for individuals, managers, and organizations to take to moderate the damaging effects of over-claiming.