In 2 experiments the Ss were "workers" operating under the supposed guidance of their peer (a stranger) who was playing the part of their "supervisor." The men in the High Dependency condition were informed that E's evaluation of the supervisor would depend largely upon their productivity, while the Low Dependency Ss were told that this evaluation would not be affected by their performance. There was a significantly greater performance in the High Dependency condition. In general, the Low Dependency Ss worked harder when told that the supervisor would soon learn of their performance than when they had been informed that he would not find out about their productivity until much later. The immediacy with which the supervisor would learn of S's productivity did not affect performance under high dependency, however. The Ss in this condition worked relatively hard presumably because of a feeling of responsibility to the dependent peer. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)