Topic 6 - Zajonc and Michaels et al Flashcards
What is social facilitation?
The name given to the positive effects of an audience - performing a task (eg. sport) better when people are watching you
What happens when other people are present?
An athlete’s level of physiological arousal increases
What are dominant tasks?
Familiar, simple or well-learned tasks
How do dominant tasks affect arousal?
Decreases arousal, improves performance
What are non-dominant tasks?
Complex, and unfamiliar
How do non-dominant tasks affect arousal?
Increases arousal, leads to mistakes and poorer performance
What theory did Michaels et al test?
The presence of audience would improve performance in dominant task (and inhibit for non-dominant task)
What was the sample?
12 student pool players - shot putting accuracy was recorded - above or below average (6 in each condition)
What was the findings of the above average group?
Shot accuracy increased from 71% to 80%
What was the findings of the below average group?
Shot accuracy decreased from 36% to 25 %
