What psychological effect describes performing better on tasks in the presence of others?

• A. Social inhibition
• B. Social facilitation
• C. Social comparison
• D. Social dominance

Answer: (B)

The correct answer is social facilitation, which refers to the phenomenon where individuals tend to perform better on tasks when they are in the presence of others compared to when they are alone. This effect is often attributed to increased arousal and motivation that social contexts create. The mere presence of others can enhance an individual's performance, especially for tasks that are well-learned or easy.

In contrast, social inhibition refers to the tendency to perform worse on tasks in the presence of others, particularly for complex or unfamiliar tasks due to increased anxiety or self-consciousness. Social comparison involves evaluating oneself in relation to others, which can influence self-esteem and motivation but does not directly address performance differences in social settings. Social dominance relates more to power dynamics and hierarchies within social interactions rather than the effects on task performance. Hence, social facilitation accurately captures the idea of enhanced performance in social contexts.