Why do I choke during presentations?

If you haven't rehearsed enough, arousal from an audience can make mistakes more likely.

Does it happen in animals?

Yes—Zajonc found cockroaches ran easy mazes faster and hard mazes slower with other roaches watching.

Social facilitation

🧠 Psychology By CampusDown Wiki Editorial Team Last updated October 26, 2026

Social facilitation is the tendency to perform simple or well-practiced tasks better—and complex or new tasks worse—when other people are present.

Contents

1. Discovery and Zajonc's theory
2. Why it happens and how to use it
3. FAQ
4. References

Discovery and Zajonc's theory

In 1898 Norman Triplett noticed cyclists rode faster racing others than riding alone against the clock. Later studies found people sometimes did worse with an audience. Robert Zajonc (1965) reconciled this: others' presence raises arousal, which strengthens our dominant response. So well-learned tasks improve, while unfamiliar ones suffer—social inhibition.

Why it happens and how to use it

Other explanations include evaluation apprehension (worry about being judged) and distraction-conflict. A meta-analysis of 241 studies found the effects small but consistent. Review familiar material at a coffee shop or library, but learn tough new skills in private. Coworking or body doubling can also help beat procrastination.

FAQ

Why do I choke during presentations?: If you haven't rehearsed enough, arousal from an audience can make mistakes more likely.
Does it happen in animals?: Yes—Zajonc found cockroaches ran easy mazes faster and hard mazes slower with other roaches watching.

Sources reviewed: 2026-10-26

References

Triplett, N. (1898). The dynamogenic factors in pacemaking and competition. American Journal of Psychology, 9(4), 507–533.
Zajonc, R. B. (1965). Social facilitation. Science, 149(3681), 269–274.
Bond, C. F., & Titus, L. J. (1983). Social facilitation: A meta-analysis of 241 studies. Psychological Bulletin, 94(2), 265–292.

Reports and materials that use this theory (Korean)

There are no materials dedicated to this theory yet, but you can search related reports in the CampusDown library (Korean).

Find more reports · Search '사회적 촉진' on CampusDown →

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This article was last updated on October 26, 2026. It is based on widely recognized original works and textbooks; when citing it in a paper, please check the original sources listed in the references.