...Describe and discuss social facilitation theory. Refer to empirical evidence in your answer Social facilitation is the tendency people have to perform better on tasks when in the presence of others than when alone. Social inhibition, on the other hand, is the tendency people have to perform worse on certain tasks when in the presence of others. When in the presence of other people, we automatically become alert, or aroused. The body’s usual response in such situations is called the dominant response. The dominant response refers to the response that is the most likely response in a given situation. It can be thought of as such: if you’re very good at a task e.g. kicking a ball, then most of the time, when you try to kick the ball, you will kick it well. This might be a result of having practised a lot. In any case, it is the response that you’d most expect the body to give. However, if you were asked to perform a task that you’re very bad at, such as juggling, then the most natural response for the body to give would be to perform badly, because you don’t know how to perform the task very well. In short, for a task that you’re good at, or one that you’ve practised a lot, you will be very good, and so the dominant response will be to perform the task well. For one that you’re not very good at, the dominant response will be to perform badly People are aroused as a result of being watched by others. Arousal brings out the dominant response in a person. Hence, if a person is...
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...work is accomplished. This stage is especially important for temporary teams, such as task forces, committees, etc.. Members have to be able to convene quickly, do their jobs on a tight schedule, and then adjourn, and be able to reconvene later if needed, which is a long-term test of team success. Reflecting on the case “The forgotten group member” the group is in the storming stage. Mike is considered the class clown of the group and he doesn’t seem to be taking the assignment seriously. Mike had a lot of excuses, such as not wanting to meet before class because he did not like to miss his favorite television show, meeting times conflicted with his work schedule, and that he was having problems with his girlfriend. . Social facilitation theory suggests that working in the presence of others...
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...in their tasks, who share responsibility for outcomes, who see themselves and who are seen by others as an intact social entity embedded in one or more larger social systems..”. The previous definition is pointing out the aspects of teamwork, which appear to be mutual reliance, interdependence and sense of responsibility that members feel when collaborating. Based on the previous theory, numerous benefits of teamwork can be underlined. One of the most important advantages that teamwork brings within an organisation is efficiency. According to Procter and Mueller (2000), it has been debated by supporters that it offers a more productive, creative, satisfying and empowering way of working. The efficiency of teamwork can also be highlighted from the book „Organizational Behaviour” by Daniel King and Scott Lawley, OUP 2013(page 165, Table 6.7), in which benefits like reduced dependency on particular individuals, faster decision making, increased time utilization and task requirements are considered benefits of teamwork. Another major benefit for companies which rely on teamwork is social facilitation (Norman Triplett, 1898). His theory points out that members who work within a group tend to become more productive, possiby due to competition within the group. Furthermore, this benefit can be pointed out by West (2004) which states that teamwork can create social bonds between members, thus giving greater camaraderie. However, Harkins...
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...What is Social Facilitation and why does it matter? Evidence reveals that, as a rule of thumb, social facilitation (Allport, 1924) occurs when the non-interactive presence of others, either as co-actors or passive spectators, facilitates simple responses and inhibits complex responses (Triplett, 1898; Zajonc, 1965). By way of example, an experienced knitter is more likely to find that both speed and accuracy are facilitated by the encouraging presence of co-actors. Conversely, novices may find a knitting group counter-productive due to inhibitory factors such as distraction and evaluation potential, and that initially they are better off alone. Heuristically, social facilitation effects (SFE) are thus determined by two moderating variables: task complexity and the form of social presence; either co-actors or passive spectators. In contrast to interactive group-behaviour, SFE will only occur if the other(s) present neither reinforce behaviour, give instruction, compete or set any form of performance standard. At first glance, this ‘phenomenon’ may appear axiomatic, particularly when contrasted with more complex interactive social influence. However, SFE represent the minimal conditions required for social influence, and thus constitute a ‘building block’ of social interaction. Notwithstanding, this comparatively simple formulation, SFE have proved hard to extrapolate for theoretical analysis and practical application, as ‘mere presence effects’ (Zajonc, 1965) tend to be...
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...Social Influence Social facilitation – The tendency for people to perform better on tasks in the presence of people than when alone. Triplett 1898 found that cyclists rode faster when racing together than when alone because of the competitive element. He also tests this with children and how long it took them to turn a fishing wheel 150 times. Sometimes they were alone and sometimes together, and found that many children worked in co-action CO-ACTION- people working together on the same task. Allport also found college students work in co action completing more multiplication problems together and when Chen looked at ants he found they dig 3 times as faster Allport said that competition is not always affects us if we do better and that sometimes it could just be the presence of an audience that could result in social facilitation. Though audience effect could also affect people in a negative way and cause them to do worse, this is known as social inhibition. AUIDENCE EFFECT – the impact of the individual task performance of the presence of an audience SOCIAL INHIBTION- The tendency for an individual to perform less well in the presence of others than when alone. AROUSAL THEORY OF SOCIAL FACILIATION Zajonc said that arousal acts as a drive that will bring out the most dominant response. In an easy or well-practised task our dominant responses tend to be correct so social facilitation occurs but in a unfamiliar task the dominant responses tend to be incorrect so social...
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...Social Facilitation and its influence on food intake Social facilitation has shown to bee an attribute to the aspect that some people have a higher susceptible level to social influence; an individuals factors can make him/her more attentive of evaluation. This can have an effect on an individuals presence in front of observers, where the individual can be more greatly affected in presence of others. Esma is an individual of normal body weight who attends a social dinner consisting 12 other people, whereas two of whom she is familiar with. Considering this, I will firstly proceed to argue if social facilitation influences the amount of food intake as in Esmas situation, and secondly, evaluate the correlation if Esma has a low trait of empathy. There has been shown to be three distinct effects on peoples behavior when consuming food among other people. The first one indicates that people usually eat more, when eating in a group (Herman et al, 2003). Research show that individuals eat up to 50% more while eating with others, than eating alone (De Castro & De Castro, 1989). There has also been shown that there is a significant correlation between social facilitation and meal duration (Bell & Pillner, 2003).However, another theory states that individuals have a tendency of mirroring the eating behaviors when eating in presence of other individuals who either eat a lot or little. Findings showed that individuals consume more when eating with individuals with a high consumption...
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...Social facilitation states that there is an increased likelihood that someone will perform better at a task due to the mere presence of others (either in the form of a co-actor or an audience). This was brought up by Norman Triplett, who looked into social facilitation within cyclists. He found that when cycling alone, the times were slower than when cycling in a group. This was a very early study, which led on to many more. Arousal theory states however that performance is not as straight forward as aforementioned. According to Zajonc, arousal acts as a drive that brings out the dominant response. The ‘dominant response’ refers to the behaviour we are most likely to perform in a given situation. In an easy or well practised talk, dominant responses tend to be correct so social facilitation occurs, but in a task which is difficult or not well learnt, the dominant responses tend to be incorrect, so social inhibition occurs. However, arousal only increases with performance until an optimum point, where it will then decline; this is called the ‘inverted U hypothesis’. This theory states that a well skilled player needs a lot of arousal to get started in the first place, where as too much arousal for an unskilled player leads to a quicker optimum point, where it will then decline (due to too much arousal). A study by Michaels et al is evidence to this theory. The aim was to see if the presence of an audience would facilitate well-learned behaviours and inhibit poorly learned ones...
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...since the beginning of time. Influence can be seen in every aspect of daily life, such as in economic, social, and political behaviours. Social influence is believed to take up a key position in diffusion of information and formation of opinions. Prior studies (Grabisch, 2010 & Rusinowshar, 2011) carried out studies to learn how individuals change their answers and opinions according to the situation or based on another individuals answer. The results showed that individuals collect opinions of others before giving the final answer. An answer that is originally a no, could turn into a yes (I1). There has been sufficient studies on social influence...
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...the effects of the substance (Clinical uses of opioid receptor drugs, 2010). After treating for substance induced intoxication, the body will transition into withdrawal. Treatment for this includes treating for the symptoms while the body is going through the detox process. Medication can be given to reduce the symptoms from withdrawals and should be used to treat specific sub-symptoms. The physiological treatment is a start to a larger treatment plan to help victims of SUD move past the...
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...Answer 1) I would agree with the statement that ‘A productive worker is happy’. To analyze this theory we can look at Maslow’s hierarchy of needs which can be assumed to be the function of an individual’s happiness. At the bottom are the various physiological and safety needs which are directly related to a person’s financial status. Higher productivity leads to employees climbing up the corporate ladder faster, which in turn leads to higher salaries and they’re thus able to satisfy their various physiological and safety needs more effectively. At the top of Maslow’s hierarchy are self-esteem and self-actualization needs which are directly related to a person’s psychological state. Higher productivity in the workplace leads to better recognition and respect from one’s peers, sub-ordinates and superiors which raise the individual’s self-esteem. Moreover, being on the top of the corporate ladder lends one the opportunity to enjoy the company of highly motivated and successful individuals and more free time for leisure activities which help them to reach a higher state of self-actualization. Moreover, most people spend a large part of their lives in the workplace and even if they were inherently happy by nature, this would cease to be the case if they were not productive and were dissatisfied with their jobs. Answer 2) Most of Pfefffer’s thirteen factors of competitive success focus on adopting management practices and work culture to motivate employees in a traditional...
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...Violating Social Norms I. Social Norm Violated Society today is shaped by norms and customs that we as humans abide by. Many norms are followed without opinion or realization that it is being done. Norms are unwritten but traditionally followed. One norm that is an understood rule is how one should behave in an elevator. For instance, it is proper to face front, stand with a respectable distance away from the person next to you, to look forward, and not stare. Being polite is acceptable with a greeting or so but normally that is all. I violated this norm by standing very closely to people as they entered the elevator and uncomfortably staring at them, I also faced the back of the elevator and sang loudly. That one was easiest for me because I didn’t really have to look at the person the entire time but the consequence was I did not get to fully visualize their reaction. II. Reaction of Others When a social norm is broken people may respond with alarm, humor, fear, irritation, or an array of other emotions. When you think of a norm, you are probably thinking about being normal. But in psychology terms, norm means, a standard or representative value for a group. The norm that is more universal to people is social norm. Meaning expectations about what behavior, thoughts or feelings are appropriate within a given group within a given context. While I violated the social norm of elevator etiquette, I had a few different reactions. I first faced the back of the elevator...
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...making group at work where five people have a strong united vision, but three people including yourself, believe they are being dangerously optimistic, impulsive and misinformed. What social psychology theory of yourself and others would help you to maintain your own beliefs, and promote your minority position When working within a group in a professional context it is essential that we understand how the individuals interact with each other and the group as a whole. It is important to maintain a strong sense of integrity and professionalism especially as part of a minority where there is a desire to maintain one’s own beliefs and promote that minority position. Through the understanding and application of social psychology concepts such as a self serving bias and belief perseverance we gain an insight into an individual’s self perception and motivations. An appreciation for how these individuals interact within the group and how the group as a whole behaves can be gained via concepts of groupthink, group polarization and the power of minority influence. An understanding and the applications of these concepts will aid individuals and those within a minority to be both assertive and resilient in their own beliefs as well as promoting that minority position. A self serving bias has the effect of creating an inflated sense of self worth and leads to an individuals’ focus being placed on their own successes or strengths and their failures and negative traits are seemingly overlooked...
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...STATEMENT OF CULTURAL COMPETENCE IN TRAINING AND EDUCATING PEOPLE OF COLOR It is both a privilege and a pleasure to address the National Minority AIDS Council to provide you with an essay of my credentials. My credentials for being placed in this position as candidate of the Training of Trainers span my medical academic career, which began when I was an undergraduate student of Nutrition at Hunter College in New York City. My exposure to the realities of the medical system as it relates to blacks and other minorities continued through my experiences at the Ryan White Clinic for HIV (Fulton County Government) in Atlanta Georgia and subsequently at my current home base Rainbow Preventive Services founded in September of 2007. During that time span from my undergraduate years to the present, I have not only witnessed some dramatic events and developments regarding the delivery of health care to the nation’s medically neediest populations, I have also been privileged to play a role in them. Examples are my developing a Lactation Education program at Broward County Community College, teaching Nutrition as Adjunct Faculty in Miami Dade Community College – Wolfson Campus and as a Trained Trainer for Bright from the Start Georgia Child Care Trainer and Reviewer. Ultimately founded Rainbow Preventive Services (RPS Inc.) to be located in downtown Atlanta in the near future. www.rps-agency.com. This agency is dedicated to decreasing healthcare disparities by preventing HIV...
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...Social Influences on Behavior 1 Social Influence on Behavior Frances Sequoyah PSY/300 February 10, 2014 Trisha Ferre Social Influences on Behavior 2 Abstract From the moment humans are born, they are social beings because without another person feeding, giving them personal care and love, no human infant would survive. Even after humans become adults and are able to take care of themselves, they still need or choose to interact with other individuals since the majority of humans need companionship of some type. Whether it is interacting with people who are friends or someone they choose as a companion. The only people who prefer not to associate with others are the ones with anti-social disorders or other mental illnesses. The following article will examine the fundamental concept of human interactions from the perspective of social psychology. This includes examples how human behavior changes when subjected to different social situations and what specific behaviors were shown and the context in which they occurred. The examples used will provide analyses of possible precursors and the consequences of different behaviors and will identify phenomenon associated with the selected behavioral examples such as social facilitation and social loafing. Social Influences on Behavior ...
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...People Join Groups? • Baumeister and Leary (1995) argue that people join groups because in our evolutionary past, there was a substantial survival advantage to establishing bonds with other people. Consequently the need to belong may be innate and is present in all societies. • Groups have many benefits, including providing information, helping us define our identity, and establishing social norms for behavior. B. The Composition and Functions of Groups • Most social groups range in size from two to six members. • Members of a group tend to be alike in terms of age, sex, beliefs, and opinions. This is both because people are attracted to similar others and because groups operate in ways that encourage similarity among members. 1. Social Norms • Groups have social norms about which behaviors are acceptable, and the consequences of violating these are pressure to conform and ultimately rejection. 2. Social Roles • Groups also often have well-defined roles, or shared expectations in a group about how particular people are supposed to behave. Roles facilitate social interaction. • Roles also may have a cost. First, adopting a role can lead people to temporarily lose their personal identities. For example, Zimbardo and his colleagues set up a mock prison in the basement of the Stanford psychology department. They selected normal, healthy young men and randomly assigned them to be prisoners or guards. Many of the guards became aggressive and the prisoners...
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