Social facilitation is said to lead to which of the following outcomes?

• A. Stronger responses on complex tasks
• B. Weaker responses on well-learned tasks
• C. Stronger responses on simple tasks
• D. Variable responses across different situations

Answer: (C)

Social facilitation refers to the phenomenon where an individual's performance on tasks is enhanced in the presence of others. This effect occurs because the presence of an audience or peers can lead to increased arousal or alertness, which tends to improve performance on tasks that are well-practiced or simple but may hinder performance on more complex tasks.

Stronger responses on simple tasks occur because these tasks are typically well-learned and require less cognitive effort. When an individual feels the pressure of an audience, their level of focus and motivation may increase, thereby enhancing their performance on these straightforward or routine tasks. In contrast, when faced with more complicated tasks that require greater cognitive processing, the same social presence can lead to anxiety or distraction, resulting in weaker performance.

Thus, the correct outcome associated with social facilitation is the enhancement of performance on simple tasks, making it clear why this answer is accurate within the context of social psychology.