Abstract
Rat subjects were used to study the acquisition of a wheel-turn Sidman avoidance response under three levels of social interaction: physical, spectator, and single subjects. Zajonc’s (1965) theory of the effects of social interaction was supported. Subjects run alone acquired the avoidance response quickly, but subjects run with spectators or with co-responders did not acquire the response.
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Benedict, J.O., Cofer, J.L. & Cole, M.W. A study of Zajonc’s theory of social facilitation using a wheel-turn Sidman avoidance response in rats. Bull. Psychon. Soc. 15, 236–238 (1980). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03334518
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03334518