Social psychologists have coined the term ____ to refer to the loss of self-awareness and of individual accountability in a group.

A) deindividuation
B) optimal distinctiveness
C) social facilitation
D) social loafing

Deindividuation refers to the phenomenon where individuals in a group lose their sense of individual identity and, as a result, may engage in behaviors they typically would not if they were alone. This can lead to a decrease in self-awareness and a diminished sense of personal responsibility for actions taken within the group context.