<P> Distraction - conflict (also distraction / conflict) is a term used in social psychology . Distraction - conflict is an alternative to the first tenet in Zajonc's theory of social facilitation . This first tenet currently seems to be more widely supported than the distraction - conflict model . Zajonc formulates that the presence of an individual generates arousal, and this arousal facilitates well - learned tasks and inhibits complex tasks . The distraction - conflict model states, "in the presence of others there is a conflict between attending to the person and attending to the task". The distraction - conflict model calls this attentional conflict, and says that it is responsible for the arousal of the subject . </P> <P> An attentional conflict occurs between multiple stimuli when the subject is interested in paying attention to each stimulus . The task that is unrelated to the subject's primary goal is referred to as the distraction . This conflict only occurs when the pressure to attend to each input is equal and the individual's cognitive capacities to do so are inadequate . </P> <P> It has been argued that the distraction - attention theory suggests that "distraction during a simple task will improve performance if it triggers attentional conflict". As with Zajonc's theory of social facilitation, the distraction - conflict theory observes that an individual's performance on simple tasks is facilitated by arousal, whereas an individual's performance on complex tasks is hindered by this same arousal . For this to occur, the level of distraction must be related to performance so that benefits of increased drive outweigh the costs of disruption . Distraction - conflict, as well as social uncertainty and self - attention, may "provoke resource overload because they absorb attentional capacity". </P> <P> This model more broadly predicts that any attentional conflict will produce drive . Distraction - conflict has been supported by several studies which have produced results showing that "distractions, such as noise or flashing lights, have the same drivelike effects on task performance that audiences do". This is because "our attention is divided between the task at hand and observing the reactions of the people in the audience" in much the same way how one is distracted from the task at hand by sounds or flashing lights . The effects of distraction - conflict are also shown to be the strongest when there is a sense of urgency . </P>

Sander's distraction-conflict explanation of social facilitation suggests