Effects of coactor's presence Social loafing and social facilitation

SUSUMU YAMAGUCHI; KOICHI OKAMOTO; TAKASHI OKA

doi:10.4992/psycholres1954.27.215

Effects of coactor's presence

Social loafing and social facilitation

SUSUMU YAMAGUCHI, KOICHI OKAMOTO, TAKASHI OKA

Author information

Keywords: drive theories, groups, performance, social facilitation, social loafing

JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

1985 Volume 27 Issue 4 Pages 215-222

DOI https://doi.org/10.4992/psycholres1954.27.215

Details

Published: February 20, 1986 Received: March 06, 1985 Available on J-STAGE: February 24, 2009 Accepted: June 29, 1985 Advance online publication: - Revised: -
Correction information
Date of correction: February 24, 2009 Reason for correction: - Correction: AUTHOR Details: [in Japanese]

Date of correction: February 24, 2009 Reason for correction: - Correction: CITATION Details: Wrong : Blank, T. O., Staff, I., & Shaver, P. 1976 Social facilitation of word associations: Further questions. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 34, 725-733.
Cohen, J., & Cohen, P. 1975 Applied multiple regression correlation analysis for the behavioral sciences. New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Cottrell, N. B. 1972 Social facilitation. In C. G. McClintock (Ed.), Experimental social psychology. New York: Holt, Rinehart, & Winston, Pp. 185-236.
Harkins, S. G., Latané, B., & Williams, K. 1980 Social loafing: Allocating effort or taking it easy. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 16, 457-465.
Harkins, S. G., & Petty, R. E. 1982 Effects of task difficulty and task uniqueness on social loafing. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 43, 1214-1229.
Hunt, P. J., & Hillery, J. M. 1973 Social facilitation in a coaction setting: an examination of the effects over learning trials. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 9, 563-571.
Ingham, A. G., Levinger, G., Graves, J., & Peckman, V. 1974 The Ringelmann effect: Studies of group size and group performance. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 10, 371-384.
Kerr, N., & Bruun, S. 1981 Ringelmann revisited: Alternative explanations for the social loafing effect. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 7, 224-231.
Latané , B., Williams, K., & Harkins, S. 1979 Many hands make light the work: The causes and consequences of social loafing. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 37, 822-832.
Matlin, M. W., & Zajonc, R. B. 1968 Social facilitation of word associations. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 10, 455-460.
Moed, W. 1927 Die Richtlinien der Leistungs-Psychologie. Industrielle Psychotechnik, 4, 193-207.
Sanders, G. S. 1981 Driven by distraction: an integrative review of social facilitation theory and research. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 17, 227-251.
Williams, K., Harkins, S., & Latané, B. 1981 Identifiability as a deterrent to social loafing: Two cheering experiments. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 40, 303-311.
Zajonc, R. B. 1965 Social facilitation. Science, 149, 69-274.

Right : Blank, T. O., Staff, I., & Shaver, P.1976 Social facilitation of word associations: Further questions. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 34, 725-733.
Cohen, J., & Cohen, P.1975 Applied multiple regression/correlation analysis for the behavioral sciences. New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Cottrell, N. B. 1972 Social facilitation. In C. G. McClintock (Ed.), Experimental social psychology. New York: Holt, Rinehart, & Winston, Pp.185-236.
Harkins, S. G., Latané, B., & Williams, K. 1980 Social loafing: Allocating effort or taking it easy. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 16, 457-465.
Harkins, S. G., & Petty, R. E. 1982 Effects of task difficulty and task uniqueness on social loafing. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 43, 1214-1229.
Hunt, P. J., & Hillery, J. M. 1973 Social facilitation in a coaction setting: an examination of the effects over learning trials. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 9, 563-571.
Ingham, A. G., Levinger, G., Graves, J., & Peckman, V. 1974 The Ringelmann effect: Studies of group size and group performance. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 10, 371-384.
Kerr, N., & Bruun, S. 1981 Ringelmann revisited: Alternative explanations for the social loafing effect. Personality and Social Psychology Bullelin, 7, 224-231.
Latané, B., Williams, K., & Harkins, S. 1979 Many hands make light the work: The causes and consequences of social loafing. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 37, 822-832.
Matlin, M. W., & Zajonc, R. B. 1968 Social facilitation of word associations. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 10, 455-460.
Moed, W. 1927 Die Richtlinien der Leistungs-Psychologie. Industrielle Psychotechnik, 4, 193-207.
Sanders, G. S. 1981 Driven by distraction: an integrative review of social facilitation theory and research. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 17, 227-251.
Williams, K., Harkins, S., & Latané, B. 1981 Identifiability as a deterrent to social loafing: Two cheering experiments. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 40, 303-311.
Zajonc, R. B. 1965 Social facilitation. Science, 149, 69-274.

Date of correction: February 24, 2009 Reason for correction: - Correction: PDF FILE Details: -

Date of correction: February 24, 2009 Reason for correction: - Correction: ABSTRACT Details: Wrong : Latané, Williams, and Harkins (1979) showed that a coactor's presence causes reduced individual effort (social loafing). Previously, it had been shown that coactor presence has a facilitating effect when the task is simple. This paradox can be resolved within the framework of Cottrell's version of the drive theory of social facilitation (Williams, Harkis, and Latané, 1980). The present study tested this notion by using a button-pushing task, varying coactor presence (vs. absence) and actor identifiability. The data obtained from 78 undergraduate students indicated: (a) Coactor's mere presence enhanced the emission of simple response (facilitation effect); (b) when the coactor's presence reduced actor identifiability, it cancelled out the facilitation effect (loafing effect); and (c) drive level, as measured by response latency, did not covary with response rate. These results suggest that loafing and facilitation effects of coactor's presence cancel one another when coactor presence reduces actor identifiability. The interpretation of the phenomena in terms of Cottrell's version was not supported.
Right : Latané, Williams, and Harkins (1979) showed that a coactor's presence causes reduced individual effort (social loafing). Previously, it had been shown that coactor presence has a facilitating effect when the task is simple. This paradox can be resolved within the framework of Cottrell's version of the drive theory of social facilitation (Williams, Harkis, and Latané, 1980). The present study tested this notion by using a button-pushing task, varying coactor presence (vs. absence) and actor identifiability. The data obtained from 78 undergraduate students indicated:(a) Coactor's mere presence enhanced the emission of simple response (facilitation effect);(b) when the coactor's presence reduced actor identifiability, it cancelled out the facilitation effect (loafing effect); and (c) drive level, as measured by response latency, did not covary with response rate. These results suggest that loafing and facilitation effects of coactor's presence cancel one another when coactor presence reduces actor identifiability. The interpretation of the phenomena in terms of Cottrell's version was not supported.

Date of correction: February 24, 2009 Reason for correction: - Correction: CITATION Details: Wrong : Blank, T. O., Staff, I., & Shaver, P.1976 Social facilitation of word associations: Further questions. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 34, 725-733.
Cohen, J., & Cohen, P.1975 Applied multiple regression/correlation analysis for the behavioral sciences. New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Cottrell, N. B. 1972 Social facilitation. In C. G. McClintock (Ed.), Experimental social psychology. New York: Holt, Rinehart, & Winston, Pp.185-236.
Harkins, S. G., Latané, B., & Williams, K. 1980 Social loafing: Allocating effort or taking it easy. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 16, 457-465.
Harkins, S. G., & Petty, R. E. 1982 Effects of task difficulty and task uniqueness on social loafing. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 43, 1214-1229.
Hunt, P. J., & Hillery, J. M. 1973 Social facilitation in a coaction setting: an examination of the effects over learning trials. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 9, 563-571.
Ingham, A. G., Levinger, G., Graves, J., & Peckman, V. 1974 The Ringelmann effect: Studies of group size and group performance. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 10, 371-384.
Kerr, N., & Bruun, S. 1981 Ringelmann revisited: Alternative explanations for the social loafing effect. Personality and Social Psychology Bullelin, 7, 224-231.
Latané, B., Williams, K., & Harkins, S. 1979 Many hands make light the work: The causes and consequences of social loafing. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 37, 822-832.
Matlin, M. W., & Zajonc, R. B. 1968 Social facilitation of word associations. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 10, 455-460.
Moed, W. 1927 Die Richtlinien der Leistungs-Psychologie. Industrielle Psychotechnik, 4, 193-207.
Sanders, G. S. 1981 Driven by distraction: an integrative review of social facilitation theory and research. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 17, 227-251.
Williams, K., Harkins, S., & Latané, B. 1981 Identifiability as a deterrent to social loafing: Two cheering experiments. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 40, 303-311.
Zajonc, R. B. 1965 Social facilitation. Science, 149, 69-274.

Right : Blank, T. O., Staff, I., & Shaver, P. 1976 Social facilitation of word associations: Further questions. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 34, 725-733.
Cohen, J., & Cohen, P. 1975 Applied multiple regression/correlation analysis for the behavioral sciences. New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Cottrell, N. B. 1972 Social facilitation. In C. G. McClintock (Ed.), Experimental social psychology. New York: Holt, Rinehart, & Winston, Pp.185-236.
Harkins, S. G., Latané, B., & Williams, K. 1980 Social loafing: Allocating effort or taking it easy. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 16, 457-465.
Harkins, S. G., & Petty, R. E. 1982 Effects of task difficulty and task uniqueness on social loafing. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 43, 1214-1229.
Hunt, P. J., & Hillery, J. M. 1973 Social facilitation in a coaction setting: an examination of the effects over learning trials. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 9, 563-571.
Ingham, A. G., Levinger, G., Graves, J., & Peckman, V. 1974 The Ringelmann effect: Studies of group size and group performance. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 10, 371-384.
Kerr, N., & Bruun, S. 1981 Ringelmann revisited: Alternative explanations for the social loafing effect. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 7, 224-231.
Latané, B., Williams, K., & Harkins, S. 1979 Many hands make light the work: The causes and consequences of social loafing. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 37, 822-832.
Matlin, M. W., & Zajonc, R. B. 1968 Social facilitation of word associations. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 10, 455-460.
Moed, W. 1927 Die Richtlinien der Leistungs-Psychologie. Industrielle Psychotechnik, 4, 193-207.
Sanders, G. S. 1981 Driven by distraction: an integrative review of social facilitation theory and research. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 17, 227-251.
Williams, K., Harkins, S., & Latané, B. 1981 Identifiability as a deterrent to social loafing: Two cheering experiments. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 40, 303-311.
Zajonc, R. B. 1965 Social facilitation. Science, 149, 69-274.

Abstract

Latané, Williams, and Harkins (1979) showed that a coactor's presence causes reduced individual effort (social loafing). Previously, it had been shown that coactor presence has a facilitating effect when the task is simple. This paradox can be resolved within the framework of Cottrell's version of the drive theory of social facilitation (Williams, Harkis, and Latané, 1980). The present study tested this notion by using a button-pushing task, varying coactor presence (vs. absence) and actor identifiability. The data obtained from 78 undergraduate students indicated:(a) Coactor's mere presence enhanced the emission of simple response (facilitation effect);(b) when the coactor's presence reduced actor identifiability, it cancelled out the facilitation effect (loafing effect); and (c) drive level, as measured by response latency, did not covary with response rate. These results suggest that loafing and facilitation effects of coactor's presence cancel one another when coactor presence reduces actor identifiability. The interpretation of the phenomena in terms of Cottrell's version was not supported.

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