Social Facilitation

Question 1

Social Facilitation

Answer 1

Positive influence of others presence on performance

Enhances performance

(others may be watching or competing)

Question 2

Social Inhibition

Answer 2

Negative influence of others presence on performance

Decreases performance

(others may be watching or competing)

Question 3

Factors affecting performance

Answer 3

1. Audience increases arousal
2. Arousal makes dominant response more likely to occur
3. Skill simple / player is expert –> dominant response correct & performance improves
4. Skill complex / player is novice –> dominant response incorrect & performance declines

Question 4

Evaluative Apprehension

Answer 4

• Not audience that raises arousal
• Can have calming effect
• Performer thinks others judge them (hence become anxious and less confident –> neg impacts performance)
• Could be someone in crowds opinion is important (e.g. selector)

Question 5

Effects of SF on performance

Answer 5

• Presence of others will either cause performer to ‘choke’ or play exceptionally
• Factors that affect impact of an audience
  1. Home/away
  2. Personality of performer
  3. Level of experience
  4. Type of skill activity

Question 6

Effects of an Audience - Personality Types

Answer 6

• High anxiety (type A) perform less well with audience
• Type B lower levels of trait anxiety
• Extroverts seek high arousal situs so perform better with audience
• Introverts shy away from social situs as have high internal arousal

Question 7

Effects of an Audience - Level of Experience

Answer 7

• Previous experience in front of audience
• Elite or highly skilled performers
• Crowds knowledge
• People you know

Question 8

Effects of an Audience - Types of Skill/Activity

Answer 8

• Simple & Gross performed in high arousal
• Audience increases arousal and facilitates performance
• Don’t require high perceptual processing
• If skills Fine/Complex lower arousal desirable for optimal performance
• Require high perceptual processing

Question 9

Effects of an Audience - Home/Away

Answer 9

• Teams often win more at home
• This to do with nature of audience –> fans away could be hostile / teams alienated by environment
• Some players perform better as away there is no pressure from people they know

Question 10

Minimise Social Inhibition

Answer 10

• Can’t predict behaviour of performer
• Mentally prepare
• Coaches prepare athletes to cope with audiences
• Can’t prepare for personality/reaction from opposition

Question 11

Strategies to Minimise Social Inhibition

Answer 11

• Selective attention
• Play down importance of event
• Overlearn skills
• Mental rehearsal/imagery
• Positive self talk
• Practice in front of audience
• Positive reinforcement