What is Social Facilitation and why does it matter?
Evidence reveals that, as a rule of thumb, social facilitation (Allport, 1924) occurs when the non-interactive presence of others, either as co-actors or passive spectators, facilitates simple responses and inhibits complex responses (Triplett, 1898; Zajonc, 1965). By way of example, an experienced knitter is more likely to find that both speed and accuracy are facilitated by the encouraging presence of co-actors. Conversely, novices may find a knitting group counter-productive due to inhibitory factors such as distraction and evaluation potential, and that initially they are better off alone. Heuristically, social facilitation effects (SFE) are thus determined by two moderating variables: task complexity and the form of social presence; either co-actors or passive spectators. In contrast to interactive group-behaviour, SFE will only occur if the other(s) present neither reinforce behaviour, give instruction, compete or set any form of performance standard. At first glance, this ‘phenomenon’ may appear axiomatic, particularly when contrasted with more complex interactive social influence. However, SFE represent the minimal conditions required for social influence, and thus constitute a ‘building block’ of social interaction. Notwithstanding, this comparatively simple formulation, SFE have proved hard to extrapolate for theoretical analysis and practical application, as ‘mere presence effects’ (Zajonc, 1965) tend to be submerged by other forms of behavioural responses, namely, social conformity, evaluation potential, competition and distraction. Moreover, the presence of others is not a dichotomous construct as noted by Allport, who defined social psychology as the study ‘of the experience of real, implied, or imagined others’ (1985, p.3).
SFE have been a feature of social psychology since the late C19th.