What psychological effect explains improved performance due to the presence of others?

The phenomenon of improved performance due to the presence of others is known as social facilitation. This effect occurs when individuals perform better on simple or well-practiced tasks in the presence of an audience or peers. The presence of others can heighten arousal, which in turn can enhance an individual's ability to perform tasks that they are already skilled at.

In social situations, the motivation and energy provided by an audience can lead to heightened focus and quicker responses, resulting in better performance. According to the theory, the effects of audience presence can vary based on the complexity of the task; while social facilitation can boost performance on simple tasks, it may hinder performance on more complex tasks due to increased anxiety or distraction.

This is contrasted with other concepts, such as social loafing, which describes the tendency for individuals to exert less effort when working in a group compared to when working alone. Cognitive dissonance involves the mental discomfort experienced when holding two conflicting beliefs, leading to a change in attitudes or behaviors to resolve the inconsistency. Groupthink refers to a situation in a group where the desire for harmony and conformity results in irrational decision-making, leading to a lack of critical evaluation of alternative viewpoints.