Question

Zajonc (1965) wrote an influential article in which he posited a theoretical explanation for the social facilitation effect. elegantly simple, this explanation included two steps:

A. the presence of others causes arousal, and arousal makes it easier to do simple things and harder to do difficult or new tasks
B. actors are concerned about evaluation, and the most dominant response
C. presence of others is distracting, and distractions make it more difficult to
D. performance of difficult tasks is arousing, and arousal impedes performance.

Answer 1

Zajonc's theory explains that the presence of others causes arousal, affecting task performance, with easier tasks benefiting from higher arousal and complex tasks from lower arousal, in line with the Yerkes-Dodson law.

Step-by-step explanation:

Zajonc's (1965) theoretical explanation for the social facilitation effect posits that the presence of others induces a state of arousal that differently influences task performance depending on the task's complexity. According to his theory, this arousal makes it easier to perform simple tasks but harder to execute complex or unfamiliar tasks. This proposition aligns with the Yerkes-Dodson law, stating an optimal arousal level for peak performance varies with the task's difficulty—higher arousal benefiting simpler tasks, while lower arousal benefits more complex tasks.

The presence of others can also lead to evaluation apprehension, where concern for how others evaluate us affects our performance. Moreover, difficult tasks can motivate individuals in a group setting if they believe their input is vital for success. Conversely, social loafing may occur if individual contributions are not identifiable, reducing arousal and potentially leading to better performance specifically in relaxed states.

In summary, social psychological theories like Zajonc's explanation of social facilitation, the Yerkes-Dodson law, and concepts like evaluation apprehension and social loafing provide insights into how the presence of others can affect individual performance on tasks of varying complexity.