Question

Recall that Zajonc placed cockroaches either in a complex maze or a simple maze. He created three other conditions as well. Any given cockroach was induced to navigate the maze (a) entirely alone, (b) in the presence of an "audience" of cockroaches, or (c) simultaneously with another cockroach (but without an audience). The audience condition (b) permitted Zajonc to demonstrate whether:
a. audiences pay attention to competitors.
b. the mere presence of others can facilitate or hinder performance.
c. complex tasks are performed less well than simple tasks.
d. competitive situations are preferred over solitary situations.

Answer 1

Answer:

The audience condition permitted Zajonc to demonstrate whether the mere presence of others can facilitate or hinder performance.

Option: (b)

Explanation:

• R. B. Zajonc presented a "theory of social facilitation".

• He organized an experiment with the cockroaches to find if there was any noticeable change in the mean number of dominant responses acted between the participants in the audience condition and the one in the solitude environment.

• It was found that there was difference which proves the social facilitation theory, that the presence of audience can hinder the performance.