Social Facilitation: Differential Recall of Paired-Associates as a Function of Socially Induced Arousal, Repetition, and Retention Interval

Predictions based on Cottrell\u27s learned drive extension of Zajonc\u27s hypothesis of social facilitation were investigated in a 2 x 2 x 2 factorial design. Sixty-four male subjects were shown a paired-associate list once or three times and then tested for recall either 2 min. or 45 min. later. Arousal at the time of learning was manipulated by the experimenter either closely observing or not observing subjects. After one learning trial, precisely the same form of Arousal X Retention Interval interaction found by Geen (1973) was obtained: observed subjects recalled fewer items at 2 min. than did unobserved subjects, while contrary to Cottrell\u27s hypothesis, this relationship reversed at 45 min. (ps\u3c.05). After three trials, no significant differences were found, although the means (higher for observed subjects tested at 2 min. and 45 min.) were in the direction predicted by Cottrell\u27s hypothesis