Rate of simple motor responding as a function of coaction, sex of the participants, and the presence or absence of the experimenter

Abstract

Male and female Ss performed a simple motor task, half alone and half coacting. Half of these Ss responded while E was not present. The dependent variable was rate of responding. Ss responded more rapidly and social facilitation appeared only when E was present. In E’s absence rate of responding declined and solitary Ss responded more rapidly than coacting Ss. Implications for a learned-drive interpretation are noted. © 1970, Psychonomic Journals, Inc.. All rights reserved.