Social facilitation
nounso·cial fa·cil·i·ta·tionpronounced SOH-shəl fə-SIL-ə-TAY-shən
Last reviewed 16 April 2026
What does the noun Social facilitation mean?
The tendency for people to perform differently when others are present. Arousal from being observed improves simple or well-practised tasks but impairs complex or unfamiliar ones.
How the noun Social facilitation is used
Social facilitation explains why you might bid confidently at a small auction but freeze up when a crowd of 200 people is watching you at a big one.
Related words
Cite this entry
MLA citation: "Social facilitation." How to Property, 16 Apr. 2026, https://howtoproperty.com.au/definitions/social-facilitation. Accessed 30 May 2026.
Chicago citation: How to Property. "Social facilitation." Last modified April 16, 2026. https://howtoproperty.com.au/definitions/social-facilitation.
APA citation: How to Property. (2026, April 16). Social facilitation. https://howtoproperty.com.au/definitions/social-facilitation