social facilitation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "social facilitation" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts related to psychology or social behavior, particularly when discussing how the presence of others can enhance an individual's performance on certain tasks. Example: "The concept of social facilitation suggests that people tend to perform better on simple tasks when they are in the presence of others."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Though these effects can be explained through social facilitation, additional research indicates more-subtle forms of socially mediated vocal behavior.

Current Biology

Social facilitation is a further cause of discrepancies as here considered.

Britannica

Unfortunately it appears that social facilitation only occurs when observed by a member of one's own species.

The Guardian

Social facilitation is the tendency for people to perform better at simple tasks when being observed by other people.

The Guardian

Some of Professor Zajonc's most influential work concerned "social facilitation" — the effect of the presence of others on a person's performance of a specific task.

The New York Times

However, since eating with strangers also drew attention away from food but did not result in increased intake, social facilitation effects are not simply due to distraction.

Physiology & Behavior

The present study draws on theories of attribution, social comparison, and social facilitation to investigate how computers might use principles of motivation and persuasion to provide user feedback.

Computers in Human Behavior

Topics discussed include dominant subordinate relationships, social facilitation, animal density, oestrous synchronisation, nutritional status, age and physiological state, presence of the bull and breed differences.

Applied Animal Behaviour Science

Such social facilitation of reproduction is beneficial to F1 female reproduction, but does not explain differential reproduction between F1 and F0 females.

Biological Conservation

Unexpectedly, repeated restraint eliminated sensitivity to ethanol-induced social facilitation in P28 adolescent males and made their female counterparts less sensitive to this effect.

Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior

It is concluded that improving the scope for social facilitation of feeding behaviour between piglets gave better results than improving possibilities for imitation of the dam during feeding.

Applied Animal Behaviour Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing "social facilitation", be specific about the type of task involved, as the effect is more pronounced for simple or well-learned tasks. Contextualize your usage with details about the social environment.

Common error

Avoid using "social facilitation" when the presence of others leads to reduced individual effort. This phenomenon is known as "social loafing", where individuals exert less effort in a group than when working alone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "social facilitation" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. As Ludwig AI indicates, it describes the phenomenon where an individual's performance is influenced by the presence of others.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

70%

News & Media

15%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "social facilitation" is a commonly used term, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, referring to the impact of others' presence on individual performance, typically enhancing simple or well-learned tasks. It is grammatically correct and most frequently appears in scientific and academic contexts. While "social facilitation" can improve performance, it's important not to confuse it with "social loafing", where effort decreases in a group. When using this phrase, clarify the task type and social environment for accurate communication. Alternatives like "group enhancement" or "audience effect" can also be used depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

group enhancement

Focuses on the outcome of improved performance within a group setting, generalizing beyond individual presence.

enhanced performance in groups

Highlights the improvement in performance when individuals work together or are simply present in a group.

audience effect

Specifically highlights the impact of an audience on performance, narrowing the scope to observation.

impact of observation on performance

Emphasizes the effect of being observed on how well someone performs.

social influence on performance

Broadly describes how social factors affect performance, encompassing more than just the presence of others.

effect of co-action

Focuses on performing a task alongside others, which can be a component of social facilitation.

peer influence on behavior

Highlights the role of peers in shaping behavior, which can include performance and other actions.

group dynamics impact

Highlights how group dynamics influence individuals, expanding beyond individual performance.

altered behavior in company

Refers to changes in behavior when someone is with others, capturing a broader scope than just performance.

motivation through social cues

Focuses on how social signals or interactions can motivate behavior, which may indirectly affect performance.

FAQs

How does "social facilitation" influence behavior?

"Social facilitation" generally enhances performance on simple or well-learned tasks when in the presence of others, but it can hinder performance on complex or unfamiliar tasks.

What's the difference between "social facilitation" and "social loafing"?

"Social facilitation" improves performance due to the presence of others, while "social loafing" results in reduced individual effort in a group setting. The key difference lies in whether the presence of others enhances or diminishes individual contribution.

In what contexts is "social facilitation" most commonly observed?

"Social facilitation" is often observed in contexts such as sports, where athletes may perform better in front of a crowd, or in simple work tasks where the presence of colleagues can increase efficiency.

Are there any downsides to "social facilitation"?

Yes, "social facilitation" can lead to impaired performance on complex or novel tasks due to increased anxiety or self-consciousness in the presence of others. This is sometimes referred to as social inhibition.