Socially Facilitated Behavior

In this review of the experimental investigation of socially facilitated behavior, the first point to be stressed is that the therm should be used descriptively, without any causal implications. In view of the diversity of the phenomena, it is likely that the mechanisms underlying socially facilitated behavior will vary, not only between species but also within a species in different situations. Functionally, socially facilitated behavior is likely to be more important than environmental factors in attaining group synchrony, since the former provides the fine-scale adjustments to the environmental control of synchrony. By maintaining the group, socially facilitated behavior will thus tend to optimize exploitation of resources and protection from predators, the two most commonly proposed advantages of group living. Socially facilitated behavior may also promote reproductive synchrony, which increases the chances for survival of the offspring. Current experimental techniques in these studies leave much to be desired. There seems to be little to recommend further demonstrations of instances of socially facilitated behavior without some attempt to record the details of the interactions between the individuals or to elucidate the underlying causal mechanisms. Because a social animal is "distressed" by isolation, no simple comparison of the rate at which a particular act occurs in a social situation with that in isolation will be very informative. A more global view of the situations in which socially facilitated behavior can occur is thought to be needed; the investigation of stimulus variables could complement that of motivational, ontogenetic, or social causal influences. A careful consideration of the social interactions involved in socially facilitated behavior and its causation and function is essential if these studies are to contribute toward an understanding of the phenomenon in a way more closely related to the natural life of the species.