Whether most people are aware of it or not, your actions and behaviors

unconsciously change when you are being observed in an environment. This concept

was first introduced to me in my Sociology 101 class where the term social facilitation

was defined. Social facilitation is the theory that individuals do better on tasks when

they are being observed by others. A person will perform better in simple tasks that

are already proficient but perform poorly on complex tasks that are unfamiliar to

them. According to the Yerkes-Dodson Law of Social Facilitation, performance alters

with varying levels of physiological or mental arousal. If arousal is too high or too low,

it can negatively affect one's performance. Therefore, optimal performance is

associated with an intermediate level of arousal.

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 The highlight of my involvement in community with Epsilon Sigma Alpha is the annual St. Jude 5K that takes place in Charleston, SC. During this event, participants are encouraged to walk or run the race track in support of the children who are currently being treated at St. Jude Children's Hospital. As the main organization of Epsilon Sigma Alpha in                                                                           South Carolina, our chapter helps to organize the event by volunteering our time                                                                     to ensure that the event runs smoothly. Members are assigned to different                                                                               stations such as check-in, spirit leaders, t-shirt station, and many others. My                                                                             specific task was to take pictures throughout the event, which can be found here.                                                                   With this event being early in the morning and its natural high energy state, I                                                                             noticed that my behavior changed due to the event itself and in the presence of                                                                       others. I was very exhausted at the beginning, but when I saw my friend cheering                                                                     on the runners, it encouraged me to join her. I also realized that the participants                                                                     do not want to see volunteers in a bad mood so my energy levels rose.

                                                                 Sometimes people can become lazy in their work ethic or do not perform to the                                                                       best of their ability because they are aware that no one is watching them. In the presence of others, I am more motivated to take on bigger responsibilities and grow personally as a result of it. In these particular environments, my behaviors and attitudes changed as a function of social influence. 

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          In a working environment, social facilitation is demonstrated in situations with co-workers. For example, let's say a person has an important presentation the next day. They will rehearse by themselves the night before, be convinced that they know the information, and then not spend too much time practicing. On the following day, he or she will begin to present their project but notices that they are not following step-by-step of how they previously rehearsed. This is most likely because their behavior shifted depending on the situation and the immediate feedback. They subconsciously altered the presentation to make them and their ideas seem more favorable. I experienced this personally during the summer as an Orientation Leader. At a certain time of the day, students are broken up into small groups where another Orientation Leader and I would lead discussion on various topics such as The Carolinian Creed or academics. Knowing I was to talk in front of a group with another student leader, I tried to become more presentable by articulating my words and ensuring I was involving everyone in group discussion. The arousing situation of speaking in front of a crowd allowed for an optimal performance because it was within my level of reach. Looking back with hindsight, altering my performance subconsciously improved my overall professional skills. I became aware of what I am capable of alongside areas that needed improvement. 

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          I remember one instance where a faculty member of another university

came to observe different small groups and my group was randomly chosen. I

was nervous to facilitate discussion in front of an adult that I was not familiar

with. Even though I had presented on the topic multiple times, I noticed that I

would tangle up my words or lose my train of thought more easily. As first

impressions go, I was disappointed with myself and my performance. Having the

added pressure of an unfamiliar person observing me while speaking in front of

a group generated an overload of arousal. This high level caused me to perform

weakly. I learned that different social environments impacted my performance

level and this one situation encouraged me to keep developing and advancing my

professional skills. Since I was aware of the presence of another person, my

behavior changed in response to it. Sometimes my behavior is improved, however,

in other instances it can be negatively affected. I believe it is important to

understand and realize that I can be in control of the situation. It is an opportunity for

me to progress as a person in the professional world.

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          In the medical environment, I think the application of social facilitation is a positive thing. It is crucial that physicians are always striving to perform the best, for the benefit of the patients. Hospitals and medical offices already induce a high stress environment so a lack in effort will only result in negative outcomes. As a future doctor, I vow to analyze each situation, recognize my abilities, and behave in ways that produce the best result. In the presence of other doctors, I am able to become more responsible with my work, which will aid in my success as a physician.