SOH-shuhl fuh-sil-i-TAY-shuhn
/ˈsoʊ.ʃəl fəˌsɪl.ɪˈteɪ.ʃən/
nounC1GREAP Psychology
AcademicScientific
An improvement in performance produced by the presence of others, especially on simple or well-rehearsed tasks.
Enhances dominant or well-learned responses under observation, though it can hinder performance on complex or unpracticed tasks.
The story behind the word. Derived from Latin 'facilis' (easy). Combined in early 20th-century social psychology to describe how an audience makes a person's dominant, well-learned responses easier to execute.
Word relationships
- audience effect: Audience effect focuses strictly on onlookers, while social facilitation encompasses both onlookers and co-actors.
- social inhibition: Social inhibition is the impairment of performance caused by the presence of others.
Commonly confused with
- Social loafing: Social facilitation boosts individual performance when observed; social loafing reduces effort when contributions are hidden.
Word family
- facilitate (verb): To make an action or process easier or more efficient.
Collocations
- demonstrate social facilitation
- social facilitation effect
- induce social facilitation
Example sentences
- "Norman Triplett discovered social facilitation in 1898 after observing that cyclists rode faster when racing against others than against the clock." Early Social Psychology
- "Elite runners often experience social facilitation, achieving personal record times when cheered on by thousands of spectators." Athletic Performance
Memory hook
Social presence makes easy tasks Facilitated (made easier and faster). Audience boosts action.
When not to use
Do not use if the presence of an audience induces severe anxiety that degrades performance on simple tasks.
Fun facts
- Cockroaches also exhibit social facilitation—running through simple straight tubes faster when observed by other roaches!
Social facilitation
An improvement in performance produced by the presence of others, especially on simple or well-rehearsed tasks.
Enhances dominant or well-learned responses under observation, though it can hinder performance on complex or unpracticed tasks.
Word relationships
Commonly confused with
Word family
Collocations
Idioms & expressions
Example sentences
Memory hook
Social presence makes easy tasks Facilitated (made easier and faster). Audience boosts action.
When not to use
Do not use if the presence of an audience induces severe anxiety that degrades performance on simple tasks.
Fun facts
Related words
Social loafing, Cohesion, Groupthink
Explore more words
facilitate, rehearsal, rehearse, audience, socialize, dominate