Collective outcomes often result from complex social dynamics where individuals both contribute directly and also shape each other’s contributions. How do we hold people responsible for an outcome when their actions influence others? Here, we examine how an individual’s role within a group (whether they can influence others, be influenced by others, or act independently) affects how responsible they are judged to be. Across three experiments spanning both social and physical settings, we find that people systematically assign greater responsibility to those who can influence others. Furthermore, influencers with knowledge of their potential impact were held more responsible than those who were unaware. The relative responsibility of individuals who were influenced by others and who acted independently differed by context. Together, these results show that we hold others responsible by considering not only how their actions directly affect the outcome, but also how they affect others’ propensity to act.
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