Psychology

1. noticed cyclist performed better when paced by other riders than when racing alone against clock
("presence of another rider is a stimulus to the racer in arousing the competitive instinct"

1. Had neighborhood kids wind up fishing reels as fast as they could.

2. Somethings alone; sometimes in pairs

3. Winding times were faster in pairs

The mere presence of others can enhance task performance

The mere presence of others can also impair task performance

1. the mere presence of other s triggers a state of arousal

2. arousal facilitates dominant (simple, well-learned)

3. inhibiting non-dominant (difficult, unfamiliar) behaviors

1. Performance apprehension(anxiety)

2. an audience arouses the competitive instinct

3. Used cockroaches to test his theory

4. Cockroaches don't experience performance apprehension

5. Cockroaches don't grandstand for other cockroaches

6. Using cockroaches allowed him to rule out (control for) these alternative causes

1. Simple Maze, No Audience

2. Simple Maze, Audience

3. Complex Maze, No Audience

4. Complex Maze, Audience

1. In the simple maze, they did better when they had an audience

2. In the complex maze, they did better when they did not have an audience.

1. These findings generalize to humans

2. When there is an audience, behavior is more automatic (culturally determined)

3. More comfortable trying new things when not being observed.