PSYCH 2800 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Social Presence Theory, Social Facilitation
Document Summary
The presence of other people and why/how they affect us. Norman triplett (1897) - idea based on cycling and performance with someone just beside you. Had children try to reel in a fishing line as quickly as possible, alone and with another person. With an audience, not just competitors or coactors . With mental, not just motor, tasks: allport (1925) - came up with better retorts or coutnerarguments with people nearby. Rats, dogs, pigeons, etc eat more with others there. Allport (1925): might come up with more arguments, but worse quality. Allee & masure (1936); animals slower to learn some mazes. Triplett (1897): audience helped some, but not all; 25% did worse with one. The mere presence of others increases psychological arousal. Possibly some form of survival or coping mechanism, preparedness. Physiological arousal increases the likelihood of the dominant response.