If the strength of a person pulling a rope is 100, theoretically it should be 200 for two persons and 300 for three persons. However, the result of an experiment with a tug of war showed that the power of an individual was used by 93% when there were two persons, 85% when three persons, and only 49% when eight persons. As the size of a group increases, an individual’s contribution to the task decreases. It is called the Ringelmann effect.
It happens because of the thought, ‘Someone else will do it, though I don’t.’ The same thing happens at home. Your home is where all your family members live together, but sometimes they tend to pass the house chores on to each other. What if you habitually hand over what you all have to do together to each other? It is more likely that things will not go well, and even if things are done well, other members will be dissatisfied.
Every family member is the house owner. If all members take responsibility with the mind of an owner, they can create the synergy effect (producing more successful result when two or more persons work together), not the Ringelmann effect.
- Tip
- Have interest in your housework.
- If you find what should be done, do it actively.
- Ask each other if they need any help.
- If anyone is doing the housework, join the work.
- Prepare meals together.
- Discuss and decide on all household matters together.
- Save energy at home.
- Keep family rules.
- Actively participate in family events.