Abstract
Does the presence of a companion decrease a human being's drive or arousal in aversive situations? Subjects escaped from electric shocks. For some subjects, the shock was mild, while for others it was aversive. Moreover subjects were either alone or with a companion who also escaped from either mild or aversive electric shocks. Contrary to the notion that “company breeds comfort,” the presence of a companion increased the speed of escape from electric shocks. The results support Zajonc's drive theory of social facilitation. One hypothesis that integrates these findings with those of previous studies of socially mediated stress reduction is that social conditions have different effects on reactions to primary as opposed to acquired sources of noxious stimulation.
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