A study of Zajonc’s theory of social facilitation using a wheel-turn Sidman avoidance response in rats

Abstract

Rat subjects were used to study the acquisition of a wheel-turn Sidman avoidance response under three levels of social interaction: physical, spectator, and single subjects. Zajonc’s (1965) theory of the effects of social interaction was supported. Subjects run alone acquired the avoidance response quickly, but subjects run with spectators or with co-responders did not acquire the response. © 1980, The Psychonomic Society, Inc.. All rights reserved.