Social Facilitation and Group Dynamics

Triplett studies

Research on children using fishing reels and bicycles.

Social Facilitation Theory

Theory explaining performance changes in group settings.

Mere presence

Performance affected by the mere presence of others.

Evaluation apprehension

Concern about being judged by an audience.

Distraction

Focus divided by the presence of others.

Social Loafing

Reduced effort in group tasks due to shared responsibility.

Accountability

Responsibility for individual contributions in a group.

Task importance

Significance of the task influencing effort levels.

Group cohesion

Unity among group members affecting individual performance.

Belief about individual effort

Perception of personal contribution's impact on outcomes.

Culture

Cultural norms influencing group behavior and effort.

Group Decision-making

Process of making choices as a collective.

Group polarization

Tendency for group discussions to enhance initial views.

Persuasive argument explanation

Group members strengthen their opinions through discussion.

Social comparison explanation

Individuals adjust opinions based on group norms.

Social categorization explanation

Grouping influences self-esteem and decision-making.

Groupthink

Poor decision-making due to group pressures for conformity.

Overestimation of the group

Unrealistic optimism about group capabilities and decisions.

Close-mindedness

Resistance to differing opinions and new information.

Pressure towards uniformity

Conformity pressure leading to self-censorship.

Preventing groupthink

Strategies to encourage diverse opinions and critical thinking.