Social Facilitation And Inhibition

Question 1

Define social facilitation

Answer 1

The positive effect of the presence of others on performance

Question 2

Define social inhibition

Answer 2

The negative effect of the presence of others on performance

Question 3

What are the 4 categories that can cause behavioural affects due to others present

Answer 3

Audience
Co actors
Competitors/competitive co actors
Social reinforcers

Question 4

Define audience

Answer 4

People who are watching the event either as spectators at the event or as a TV audience

Question 5

Define co actors

Answer 5

Those doing the same task but not involved in direct competition

Question 6

Define competitors/competitive co actors

Answer 6

Those who are in direct competition with you

Question 7

Define social reinforcers

Answer 7

Those who have a direct influence on the event or performer

Question 8

What does Zajoncs model say response is dependant on

Answer 8

The degree of difficulty of the skill (simple/complex) and the level of experience that the performer has (novice/pro)

Question 9

What are the 2 types of people present in Zajoncs model

Answer 9

Passive people
Interactive people

Question 10

Describe passive people according to Zajoncs model

Answer 10

Passive people do not have a direct influence on the event, but their presence may have an impact on the performer

Question 11

Describe interactive people according to Zajoncs model

Answer 11

Interactive people do have a direct influence. They can give encouragement or advice but could also become a distraction

Question 12

What are the examples of passive people according to Zajoncs model

Answer 12

Audience
Co actors

Question 13

What are the examples of interactive people according to Zajoncs model

Answer 13

Competitors/competitive co actors
Social reinforcers

Question 14

What level of experience and degree of difficulty causes social inhibition

Answer 14

Complex and novice

Question 15

What level of experience and degree of difficulty causes social facilitation

Answer 15

Expert and simple

Question 16

Why does being a novice cause social inhibition

Answer 16

A novice will experience anxiety and over arousal when being watched and may be unable to cope with the pressure from the crowd
This causes poor execution of skills leading to social inhibition

Question 17

Why do complex tasks lead to social inhibition

Answer 17

They require lots of interpretation of numerous items of information
Ability to process information is reduced when stressed so arousal increases causing social inhibition

Question 18

Why does being an expert cause social facilitation

Answer 18

Experts are able to cope with the demands of the crowd so are able to be motivated and encouraged by it
Therefore skills are enhanced and social facilitation occurs

Question 19

Why do simple tasks lead to social facilitation

Answer 19

If a skill is simple or ‘easy’ a performer would want to work harder to not be the first to lose and would try harder causing social facilitation

Question 20

Define evaluation apprehension

Answer 20

The perceived fear of being judged

Question 21

Who may be watching a person to cause evaluation apprehension

Answer 21

A knowledgeable person (eg a scout or professional)
A known person to the performer (eg a peer or a family member)

Question 22

What feelings may increase due to people watching your performance?

Answer 22

Motivation
Increase anxiety and arousal (could lead to social inhibition or decreased performance)
Evaluation apprehension
Low self efficacy (leading to inhibition)
High trait anxiety

Question 23

How can we prevent social inhibition or evaluation apprehension

Answer 23

Familiarisation
Decreasing the importance of the task
Improving focus and concentration via selective attention
Imagery, positive self talk, negative thought stopping, mental rehearsal
Increasing self efficacy
Practising skills until they’re grooved
Gradually introducing evaluation