Norman Triplett was an American psychologist best known for his pioneering work in social psychology. Born in 1898, he conducted one of the first experiments in this field, which examined how the presence of others affects individual performance. His study involved cyclists and demonstrated that people tend to perform better when they are in the company of others compared to when they are alone. Triplett's research laid the groundwork for understanding social facilitation, a concept that explores how social contexts influence behavior. His findings have had a lasting impact on psychology, influencing later studies on group dynamics and the effects of competition, such as those involving sports and teamwork.