Chapter 10: Performance Flashcards
Improvement in task performance that occurs when people work in the presence of other people.
social facilitation
Performing a task or other type of goal-oriented activity in the presence of one or more other individuals who are performing a similar type of activity.
coaction
In general, an analysis of human motiva- tion that stresses the impact of psychological or physio- logical needs or desires on individuals’thoughts, feelings, and actions; also an explanation of social facilitation proposed by Robert Zajonc, which maintains that the presence of others evokes a generalized drive state characterized by increased readiness and arousal.
drive theory
An analysis of performance gains in groups arguing that individuals working in the presence of others experience a general concern for how these others are evaluating them, and that this apprehension facilitates their performance on simple, well-learned tasks.
evaluation apprehension theory
An analysis of performance gains in groups assuming that social facilitation is caused by individuals striving to make a good impression when they work in the presence of others.
self-presentation theory
An analysis of performance gains in groups assuming that when others are present, attention is divided between the other people and the task; this attentional conflict increases motivation, and so it facilitates performance on simple, well-learned tasks.
distraction-conflict theory
An analysis of performance gains in groups suggesting individual differences in social orientation (the tendency to approach social situations apprehensively or with enthusiasm) predict when social facilitation will occur.
social orientation theory
The tendency, first documented by Max Ringelmann, for people to become less productive when they work with others; this loss of efficiency in- creases as group size increases, but at a gradually decreas- ing rate.
Ringelmann effect
The reduction of individual effort exerted when people work in groups compared to when they work alone.
social loafing
Contributing less to a collective task when one believes that other group members will compensate for this lack of effort.
free riding
The tendency for individuals to contribute less to a group endeavor when they expect that others will think negatively of someone who works too hard or contributes too much (considering them to be a “sucker”).
sucker effect
The tendency for group members to expend greater effort on important collective tasks to offset the anticipated insufficiencies in the efforts and abilities of their co-members.
social compensation
A method for enhancing creativity in groups that calls for heightened expressiveness, postponed evaluation, quantity rather than quality, and deliberate attempts to build on earlier ideas.
brainstorming
