What does the term 'social facilitation' describe?

The term 'social facilitation' refers to the phenomenon where an individual's performance on tasks improves in the presence of others. This improvement is typically observed with tasks that a person is already familiar with or skilled at; the presence of an audience or peers can enhance their motivation and arousal levels, leading to better performance.

In situations where individuals are being observed, they may experience increased drive or a sense of competition, which can help them perform better than they would alone. This effect underscores the influence of social context on individual behavior, highlighting how the dynamics of observation and competition can enhance performance outcomes.

Social facilitation is particularly relevant in psychology and social behavior studies, where it shows how environmental factors and social presence can affect personal performance and motivation. The concept does not imply multitasking effectiveness or disruptions in concentration, nor does it suggest an overall tendency to perform worse under observation—these reflect different psychological phenomena.