Explain social facilitation. In what cases does an audience help or hinder one's performance?
What will be an ideal response?
Essay should include:
Social facilitation occurs when a person's performance improves when there are others performing the same behavior. For example, runners and bicycle riders move faster when they are performing in a group than when they are alone. Even dogs, cats, and roaches have been found to be affected by social facilitation. Apparently, others increase our arousal and levels of motivation. For simple tasks, or for things we know and do well, social facilitation improves our performance. For example, for tennis pros, playing before a large crowd may actually enhance their performance. However, for complex tasks, our performance can be hindered by the presence of a group. If we are playing tennis before a large crowd and we feel we are being evaluated, our performance may begin to suffer. If we feel we are not playing well, then our performance may suffer even more. Performing before a group is very different from performing as a member of a group. Within group, there can be diffusion of responsibility, that is, individuals may not tend to work as hard because they feel others are also present to help.
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A formal agreement stating behaviors to be changed and consequences that apply is known as
a. the Premack principle. b. higher order conditioning. c. a behavioral contract. d. self-recording.
Proponents of clinical psychologists obtaining prescription privileges argue that with prescription privileges,
a. clinical psychologists would be able to treat a wider range of clients. b. care for patients needing both therapy and medication would be more efficient and cost-effective. c. clinical psychologists would be better able to monitor changes in symptoms as a function of medication dosage. d. all of the above
According to Tomkins, every society puts constraints on the expression of emotions. These voluntarily modified emotions are called:
a. display rules b. feedback emotions c. social emotions d. backed-up emotions