What does social facilitation refer to?

Social facilitation refers to the phenomenon where individuals perform better on tasks when in the presence of others compared to when they are alone. This improvement is primarily associated with tasks where the person is already skilled or proficient. The presence of others can enhance the performance of dominant responses, which are the behaviors that are already well-learned or habitual for the individual.

This concept can be traced back to the work of psychologists such as Norman Triplett, who observed that cyclists tended to ride faster when competing against others than when riding alone. The underlying mechanisms include increased motivation, heightened arousal, and the social pressure to perform well, which can lead to better outcomes in performance for certain tasks.

Understanding social facilitation helps explain why individuals may thrive in competitive environments or in situations where they can showcase their skills in front of an audience.