Social Facilitation

Question 1

Define social facilitation

Answer 1

The audience has a positive affect/improves performance

Question 2

Define social inhibition

Answer 2

Audience has a negative affect/hinders performance

Question 3

Define an ‘audience’

Answer 3

An audience can include anyone watching a performer.
E.g:
Crowd
Teammates
Coaches
Opponents

Question 4

Define evaluative apprehension

Answer 4

Arousal levels increase due to perceived judgement by the audience

Question 5

Explain the effect of an audience

Answer 5

The presence of an audience increases performers level of arousal.
The impact of this is dependent on several factors.
Increased arousal leads to an increased probability of dominant response.

Question 6

Effect of an audience on:

Introvert/extroverts
Beginners/experts
Gross/fine
Simple/complex

Answer 6

Introverts - negative effect
Extroverts - positive effect

Beginners - negative effect (dom resp incorrect)
Experts - positive effect (dom resp correct)

Gross - positive effect (better w high arousal)
Fine - negative effect (better w/o high arousal)

Simple - positive effect (low information processing)
Complex - negative effect (high information processing)

Question 7

Methods to limit the effect of an audience

Answer 7

• Train in front of an audience
• Use of selective attention, ‘shut out’ audience
• Use of techniques to control arousal
• Support from peers
• Groove the skill - dominant response