Social Facilitation

Question 1

What is social facilitation

Answer 1

Enhancement in performance caused by an audience

Question 2

What is social inhibition

Answer 2

Decline in performance caused by an audience

Question 3

What are the two main theories in relation to social facilitation

Answer 3

Drive theory of social facilitation

Evaluation apprehension theory

Question 4

What is drive theory from last year

Answer 4

As arousal increases so does performance 
Performance|          /
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                     Arousal

Question 5

What s drive theory of social facilitation

Answer 5

Presence of others (audience)
Increase in performing dominant response
If correct (usually autonomous) If incorrect (usually cognitive)
Social facilitation Social inhibition

Question 6

How does personality link with social facilitation/inhibition

Answer 6

Introvert=don’t like audience

Extrovert=like audience

Question 7

Explain evaluation apprehension theory

Answer 7

Proposed the ‘mere presence’ of others was not sufficiently arousing to produce social facilitation effect
Increases in arousal were only evident when the performer perceived that the audience were assessing/judging a performance
Could be the case that the perceived evaluation of the audience inhabits performance
Some athletes may rely upon evaluation to stimulate arousal -arousal therefore may have a facilitating effect

Question 8

Who came up with drive theory of social facilitation

Answer 8

Zajonc 1965

Question 9

Who came up with evaluation apprehension theory

Answer 9

Cottrell 1968

Question 10

Name some strategies to combat the effect of social inhibition in practical activities

Answer 10

Selective attention
Mental rehearsal/imagery
Positive self talk to block out negative thoughts
Practice with an audience
Skills are overlearnt and grooved to become dominant response behaviours
Confidence building strategies
Positive reinforcement and social support from coach
Goal setting

Question 11

Name the three further theories that relate to the facilitation/inhibition of a performance

Answer 11

Home advantage effect
Proximity effect
Distraction conflict theory

Question 12

Who came up with the home advantage effect

Answer 12

Nevill and cann 1998

Question 13

Who came up with the proximity effect

Answer 13

Schwartz 1975

Question 14

Who came up with distraction conflict theory

Answer 14

Baron 1986

Question 15

Explain the home advantage effect

Answer 15

Large supportive home crowds are believed to provide the home team with an advantage

Question 16

Explain the proximity effect

Answer 16

Location of the audience in relation to performance
Performers may experience the effect more intensely if the audience is close
More evident in indoor sports, eg ice hockey, basketball
May either have a positive or negative effect

Question 17

Explain the distraction conflict theory

Answer 17

Limitations of the performers attentional capacity can explain the effect of the audience
Models of information processing indicate that attention can only be given to a limited number of environmental cues
Simple tasks requiring little attention are performed best in front of an audience
Large attention means selective attention is more difficult -lose detail

Question 18

How can the initial affect of an audience change levels of arousal

Answer 18

Positively and negatively