Modern psychological science highlights such an interesting phenomenon as social facilitation. This term was introduced at the beginning of the last century by scientists N. Triplet and F. Allport. They at one time developed a whole concept that makes it possible to understand why a person, being in a group of certain people, acts in one way or another. It turns out that many features of behavior depend on such things as temperament, a tendency to communicate, a habit of isolation.
The main factors of social facilitation are pronounced aspirations to create a positive impression of yourself, to receive approval from society. A person whose life goes on within the framework of social norms and orders will struggle to meet the responsibilities assigned to him. He will try to meet the expectations of colleagues and superiors even when it is inconvenient and does not bring joy to his own personality.
The essence of the concept
Social facilitation is a mechanism of personality behavior, when it has the ability to quite successfully act and make the right decisions in the community. If a person remains alone with himself, then some tasks of the same level of complexity are perceived by him as more difficult. That is, the effect of social support and approval comes into play. To one degree or another, it is important for all of us to be noticed and heard by society. No one seeks to live so independently that no social attitudes and stereotypes touch him. We are more inclined to listen to the majority opinion and draw our own conclusions from this.
Social facilitation in psychology is a rather subtle and individual phenomenon. The absence or presence of support from society will affect each person in different ways. Someone prefers to work alone, and people who constantly scurrying back and forth interfere with him. There are people who do not like to listen to instructions, they rely only on their own knowledge, skills and preferences. It is important for another throughout the entire period of work to feel interaction with colleagues and colleagues. Although this will not significantly help in the work, the main thing is that the person is not alone. In other words, the phenomenon of social facilitation is that a person feels more confident when someone is interested in and supports her activity.
The phenomenon of positive expectation
The effect of social facilitation is closely related to what a person expects from society, how much it is oriented at all to his opinion. When people around tend to encourage a person, support him in many endeavors, the individual himself feels that it is much easier and simpler for him to carry out his daily tasks. The phenomenon of positive expectation assumes that the person will try to make a positive impression on the people around him in order to get all kinds of benefits. When a person feels popular and accepted in society, it becomes much easier for him to perceive himself and strive for any goals. Social facilitation in psychology is a concept that determines the degree of success of a person in a particular situation. Each of us throughout life seeks to create the most comfortable conditions around us.
Social inhibition
This is the opposite phenomenon that arises in a situation when, at the moment of interaction with society, when performing a specific task, a person feels lost and insecure. Anxiety grows, fear appears to do something wrong, to make a mistake. This phenomenon is actually not uncommon. It is extremely important for people whose inner world is distinguished by a special individuality to be fed by their own energy, while a stranger can harm and hinder.
The phenomena of social facilitation and inhibition are opposite phenomena, but at the same time they are closely connected with each other. If the first concept implies inclusion in public life, then the second most often demonstrates some freedom from social interaction in general. Creative people live such a life: writers, musicians, artists. Social facilitation and inhibition are two opposite poles. If for a person it is important and meaningful to work individually, then all sorts of interventions and tips from other people can cause him considerable irritation and dissatisfaction. Social inhibition suggests that individuals are better guided by their own opinions, attitudes, and motives. The presence of other people at the time of work activity can only do harm. Labor productivity will not only worsen, it will not reflect the degree of giftedness of a person.
The power of psychological pressure
We all live in a society that cannot but have a significant impact on us. For the most part, people do not do what they really want, but as the circumstances require. The strength of the psychological impact of society on an individual is so great that sometimes he fails to recognize his own desires and motives.
The phenomenon of social facilitation is of great importance here. It is important for some people to feel the support of their inner circle. It is with the enlistment of such moral help that they can do their job more efficiently and fully. If such a person is left alone with a difficult task, then, of course, he will cope with it. However, he will need more time in order to understand the essence of the problem and solve all arising issues.
The phenomenon of loneliness
When a person relies only on himself, he gets used to act alone. Gradually, the presence of a number of colleagues and the immediate environment can greatly affect the results of activities. Such a person gets used to concentrate on work as much as possible and is not distracted by trifles. Demanding for oneself is growing, strict discipline and responsibility are being developed.
Assessment phenomenon
Being in a society, a person is inclined in most cases to obey the laws existing in it. In this case, the evaluation effect is triggered. A person begins to think about how other people will perceive it, what opinion they will have as a result of certain actions, deeds. Social facilitation in this particular case is manifested as the expected praise or censure, as a result of which the productivity of the activities performed increases significantly.
Publicity effect
A person who lives in society, always strives to make a good, positive impression on others. Sometimes we can’t independently make decisions in the sense that we constantly look back at the majority opinion. The effect of social facilitation forces one to follow social attitudes and focus on his needs. So it turns out that a person begins to live the requirements of society, forgetting about his own needs. In this way, internal dissatisfaction, a sense of loss and personal unfulfillment, is born.
The effect of publicity is expressed in the fact that, being in a society, a person begins to act in accordance with the expectations assigned to it. She does not do anything superfluous, but she behaves adequately enough for each specific situation.
Extroverts and Introverts
People in varying degrees need society. If extroverts cannot live without social interaction, then introverts can do without it quite a long time. The former draw inspiration through communication with people, while the latter see an inexhaustible source of grace in themselves. Interaction with others can be very tiring, depriving them of strength and new opportunities.
Temperament Properties
It is known that sanguine people more easily than others adapt to changing conditions. Choleric people tend to act impulsively, to take rash steps. Phlegmatic people are quite calm and reasonable, and melancholic people are characterized by emotional instability and excessive sensitivity. What effect does social facilitation have on all four types? An example is this: at the very first difficulties, the melancholic is inclined to immediately become self-contained, the phlegmatic person tries to sort things out, the sanguine is active and productive, and the choleric is indignant.
Social laziness
What is this concept, how is it related to social facilitation? Laziness is manifested when there is no positive assessment from other participants in the activity. If a person is not encouraged in any way, she will not want to work to the fullest of her abilities. Social laziness lies in the fact that a person will never make additional efforts if he does not see the meaning and purpose in them. In the absence of a significant assessment, a person often closes in on himself or begins to work just enough so as not to arouse suspicion from colleagues and colleagues. Laziness neutralizes the effect of such a thing as social facilitation. Life examples show that in the absence of proper attention and support from the authorities, people generally stop trying, to show themselves at work from the best side, because they do not see the point and necessity.
Each of us wants to feel that his work is not in vain. If there is a goal for which a person takes certain steps, then any obstacles seem to be surmountable. There are even additional forces for the implementation of the plans. In the case of serious conflicts, misunderstanding on the part of society, a sharp, critical rejection of the results of the individual’s work, conflicting feelings arise that prevent them from fully acting.
Socio-educational facilitation
Public institutions, which include kindergartens and schools, teach a small person from an early age to understand what other people expect from him. Each of us is familiar with the methodology of encouragement and punishment, successfully applied in society. A child, getting into a certain social environment, immediately learns to live according to its laws. From childhood, a person is offered (or rather, imposed) a specific model of behavior, according to which he will live in the future.
Socio-pedagogical facilitation is that a person from an early age learns to perceive himself as part of society. The society makes certain demands on it, under which it unwittingly has to adapt. With this approach, a person often loses his own personality, does not know how to implement it in the future.
Thus, social facilitation acts as a kind of connecting link between the aspirations of the person himself and social attitudes. It is very important to be able to find a balance between these two poles, then the personality will become holistic and harmonious.