Sport Psychology: Social Facilitation

Question 1

What is social facilitation?

Answer 1

The behavioural effects due to others (BEDTOP)

Question 2

Who proposed Social Facilitation?

Answer 2

Zajonc

Question 3

What is inhibition?

Answer 3

The negative effects due to the presence of others

Question 4

What is facilitation?

Answer 4

Positive effects due to the presence of others

Question 5

What are the four types of others present in sport according to Zajonc?

Answer 5

. Audience
. Competitors
. Social reinforcers
. Co-actors

Question 6

What does the audience do?

Answer 6

They just watch

Question 7

What do competitors do?

Answer 7

They are in conflict with the performer

Question 8

What do social reinforcers do?

Answer 8

They encourage or critics performance of the performer

Question 9

What do co-actors do?

Answer 9

They play the sport alongside the performer

Question 10

What can the audience and co-actors cause an increase in?

Answer 10

Cause an increase in arousal levels due to presence. But they are passive - are not involved

Question 11

Who has more of a direct impact on the performers performance?

Answer 11

Competitors and social reinforcers have more of a direct impact by either giving encouragement or causing distractions

Question 12

Who would experience social inhibition?

Answer 12

A beginner

Question 13

Who would experience social faciltation?

Answer 13

An expert

Question 14

How can co-actors help in a simple task?

Answer 14

They raise arousal levels

Question 15

Whats necessary for complex tasks?

Answer 15

The complex tasks need lower arousal levels in order to concentrate on the task

Question 16

What does performance and the dominant response look like in an EXPERT PERFORMER?

Answer 16

The dominant response is well learned and so is accurate, under pressure the dominant response becomes automatic, simple and correct. This will lead to positive performances as FACILTATION occurs.

Question 17

What does performance and the dominant response look like in an NOVICE PERFORMER?

Answer 17

The dominant response in poorly learned and so is inaccurate, under pressure this response becomes automatic, complex and incorrect. This may lead to pressurised performances as INHIBITION occurs

Question 18

What is evaluation apprehension?

Answer 18

It is the fear of being judged

Question 19

How does evaluation apprehension affect performance?

Answer 19

If the performer feels they are being judged by those watching it causes a negative influence on his performance

Question 20

What may you feel if you are unconfident?

Answer 20

High arousal

Question 21

How else may high arousal be caused?

Answer 21

If you are being watched by important/expert people

Question 22

How can you prevent social inhibition?

Answer 22

. Getting the players familiar with playing in front of a crowd
. Gradually introducing evaluation
. Improving focus and concentration
. Lower arousal levels
. Decrease the importance of an event
. Peer support groups

Question 23

How can you get the players familiar with playing in front of a crowd?

Answer 23

Train with a distraction so the team get used to it. Gradually build up number of audience and important people watching

Question 24

How can you gradually introduce elevation?

Answer 24

A team may have informal chats before progressing to statistical analysis. The level of assessment should build up gradually

Question 25

How can you improve focus and concentration?

Answer 25

Players could focus on key info and not the audience so they focus and pick up on the relevant information

Question 26

How can you lower the arousal levels?

Answer 26

Imagery, visualisation and other stress management techniques