Ritu is a Class 12 student in Pune who has practised Hindustani vocal music for eight years. At her school's annual day, she sang a solo on stage before about 400 parents and teachers. Her music teacher saw that she sang with more energy and fewer mistakes than in any practice session held in the empty music room. A week later, Ritu joined 35 students in a group song for Republic Day. Only the sound of the whole choir was judged. She noticed that she and several others sang softly and did not try very hard.
Which of the following best explains Ritu's better singing at the annual day?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Social facilitation
Option (1) Social loafing — Incorrect. Social loafing is a drop in individual effort on a collective task whose output is pooled. It fits the Republic Day choir, but Ritu's solo was her own task, judged on its own.
Option (2) Social facilitation — Correct. Ritu performed alone in the presence of an audience. This is social facilitation: the presence of others raises arousal and lifts the performance of a person already good at the task, as Ritu is after eight years of practice.
Option (3) Group polarisation — Incorrect. Group polarisation is the strengthening of a group's initial position after discussion. It concerns group decisions, and no group decision is being taken at the annual day.
Option (4) Conformity — Incorrect. Conformity means changing one's behaviour to follow a group norm. Ritu was not following any norm; her performance improved because people were watching.
NCERT (2026-27): “INFLUENCE OF GROUP ON INDIVIDUAL BEHAVIOUR “Social facilitation research suggests that presence of others leads to arousal and can motivate individuals to enhance their performance if they are already good at solving something. This enhancement occurs when a person’s efforts are individually evaluated. …” |