Drive Theory

Definition: The presence of a passive audience causes arousal which creates a response. In some cases, the presence of an audience will facilitate the better performance of a task while in other cases, it will inhibit the performance depending on if the task is a dominant response (easy to the individual) or a non-dominant response (being subjectively difficult).

Zajonc, R. B. (1965). Social facilitation. Research Center for Group Dynamics, Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan.

Application: This theory can be applied to community development because often community organizers have an audience in which they are speaking to. If the task is a dominant response, that is if speaking about the community development comes easy, the response will be heightened.  It is important for community organizers to understand if doing a task is a dominant response or not, and if it is dominant to include an audience to strengthen their task response. If it is not dominant, to practice it alone. 

Adaptation: This social psychology theory can be adapted to the theater.  For example, when rehearsing (if the individual is comfortable and used to performing), having coworkers or a few people in the audience will improve their response because it is a dominant response.