Question

How does the social faciliation theory explain why social facilitation and social interference occur?

Answer 1

Sometimes we do better when people are watching us and the other times we do miserably because we are being watched. For instance, while taking a test, the room is mostly quiet with only or two people invigilating. However, imagine a scenario where you are the only one taking the test and the room is crowded with people hooting for you. You are more likely to get distracted. When the mere presence of others interferes with your performance or slows it down, is known as the social-interference theory.

On the contrary, you are at the gym bracing yourself for a bench-press. A friend walks over and offers to help you support the weights that you would be lifting. He watches you while you perform a bench-press. You are more likely to do well than when nobody was watching you. The mere presence of others facilitates your performance. This is known as the social-facilitation theory.

In some scenarios we do better with the mere presence of others and the other times we slow down. It really depends from situation to situation. In the former instance, taking a test needs our attention and involves complex cognitive process. Thus, the presence of others was an interference. In the latter example, performing bench-press needed you to only lift the weights up and down. The presence of someone else facilitated your performance.