“The case you describe below is an example of social loafing. Social loafing exists in gradations and I think we are all prone to engage in the behaviour at times, depending on external factors. Yet some people more so than others, depending on their personality structure.
“This example is extreme though. The behaviour can probably be explained by a mixture of personality, contextual and compliance factors [or a] lack of [them]. Personality probably plays a big role in these extreme examples. For instance, these are often people who lack empathy and self-reflection.”
As for whether there are ways around it, Dr Vleugels recommends making sure you understand the reason behind the activity before you do anything else.
“The best way to explore the behaviour is by engaging in a conversation with the person. While the behaviour may be personality-driven, there also might be other, unexpected factors at play here. For instance, some underlying conditions – ADHD or depression, for example – may substantially interfere with day-to-day planning and time management.
“The person may then engage in various types of avoidance behaviour to cover up their incapacity to meet work demands.”
And this takes me back to the cheating bankers. Early on in the Wells Fargo scandal the perpetrators were dismissed (or really thrown under the bus by higher-ups) as a few bad apples. But it became clear that what many were facing was unworkable work demands. They committed fraud because they saw no other way to reach their targets and avoid the wrath of their bosses.
I absolutely understand your frustration. What you’re witnessing seems, just like in the banking case, to include so much effort and cause so much pain for so little apparent advantage. But I’d be careful about writing this person off as simply a bad actor.
As Dr Vleugels says, without knowing all the details and nuances of the case, we can only speculate, but perhaps what you’re seeing (and being affected by) is not the illogical behaviour of a deliberately malicious person. It may in fact be a person desperately trying to cope with a situation that for some reason seems hopeless to them.
Work Therapy’s email inbox is always open. Send your questions to jonathan@theinkbureau.com.au
