Question

Zajonc's social facilitation theory predicts that ________.

1) performance on well-learned tasks is facilitated by an audience
2) performance on novel tasks is facilitated by an audience
3) performance on well-learned tasks is hindered by an audience
4) performance is not affected by an audience
5) performance is improved on both novel and well-learned tasks performed in front of an audience

Answer 1

Zajonc's social facilitation theory predicts that performance on well-learned tasks is facilitated by an audience (Option 1).

Step-by-step explanation:

Zajonc's social facilitation theory posits that the presence of an audience can impact performance, and it specifically predicts that well-learned tasks are facilitated in the presence of an audience.

This phenomenon is known as the "audience effect." Zajonc proposed that the arousal caused by the audience enhances the dominant response in the performer, leading to improved performance on tasks that individuals have mastered or are well-versed in.

This theory implies that when individuals are confident and skilled in a particular task, the presence of an audience can boost their performance.

In contrast, Zajonc suggested that for tasks individuals have not mastered, the arousal caused by the audience may lead to the dominant response being an error, hindering performance.

Therefore, Zajonc's theory primarily focuses on the facilitation of well-learned tasks in the presence of an audience. It aligns with Option 1, which accurately represents the key prediction of Zajonc's social facilitation theory regarding the impact of an audience on performance.

In summary, according to Zajonc's social facilitation theory, the presence of an audience enhances performance on tasks that individuals have well-learned or mastered, supporting Option 1 as the correct answer.

Answer 2

Zajonc's social facilitation theory predicts that performance on well-learned tasks is facilitated by an audience. The correct answer is 1.

Step-by-step explanation:

Zajonc's social facilitation theory posits that the presence of an audience or co-actors can enhance or impair an individual's performance depending on the nature of the task. Specifically, it suggests that for well-learned or simple tasks, the presence of others tends to facilitate or improve performance due to heightened arousal or increased alertness caused by social scrutiny.

This phenomenon typically leads to the dominant response being amplified, resulting in better performance. However, for complex or novel tasks, the theory predicts the opposite effect, where the presence of an audience can cause distraction or anxiety, hindering performance due to the increased pressure or self-consciousness.

Hence, social facilitation theory primarily emphasizes that the presence of an audience enhances performance on tasks that individuals have already mastered or are highly familiar with. Therefore, the correct answer is 1.