After decades of research on the effect that others have on task performance, social psychologists have concluded that the presence of others ____.
A)almost always improves performance, because it stimulates competition
B)almost always hinders performance, because it elicits evaluation apprehension
C)has mixed effects, because it elicits evaluation apprehension
D)has mixed effects, because it elicits a person's dominant response

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The presence of others can have mixed effects on performance because it elicits a person's dominant response. This means that if a task is well-learned or simple, the presence of others is likely to improve performance (due to increased arousal enhancing the dominant response). However, if the task is complex or not well-learned, performance can be hindered because the dominant response may be incorrect or less effective.

After Decades of Research on the Effect That Others Have