Social Facilitation

Question 1

What is social facilitation/inhibition?

Answer 1

• The behavioural effects due to others present (BEDTOP)
• Proposed by Zajonc (1965)
• Facilitation - positive effects due to the presence of others
• Inhibition - negative effects due to the presence of others.

Question 2

What are the 4 types of others present according to Zajonc?

Answer 2

1. An audience - just watches
2. Competitors - are in conflict with the performer
3. Social reinforcers - encourage or criticise performance
4. Co-actors - are doing the sport alongside you

Question 3

What does thre Zajonc model suggest?

Answer 3

• The audience and co actors cause an increase in arousal due to their presence but are passive as they are not involved in the event.
• Competitors and social reinforcers have more direct impact giving encouragement or causing distractions

Question 4

Help or hinder?

Answer 4

• Presence of co actors may help in a simple task as arousal is raised. Complex skills need lower arousal levels to concentrate on the skills.
• A beginner may be hindered when an elite performer is motivated; beginner experiences inhibition, expert experiences facilitation.

Question 5

What is the link between performance and the dominant response for an EXPERT?

Answer 5

• Well learned/accurate dominant response, when under pressure this response becomes automatic, simple and correct. May lead to positive performances as facilitation occurs.
• Example: roar of the home crowd in a pressure situation.

Question 6

What is the link between performance and the dominant response for a NOVICE?

Answer 6

• Poorly learned/innacurate response, when under pressure this response becomes automatic, complex and incoreect. May lead to pressurised performances as inhibition occurs.
• Example: choosing the correct response to a powerful serve.

Question 7

What is evaluation apprehension?

Answer 7

• The fear of being judged.
• The negative influence of others if the performer feels they are being watched.
• High arousal could be created when being watched by important people.
• If you aren’t confident you may also feel high arousal.
• It’s worse if: the audience is known to us, the audience is critical, important people are watching, lacking confidence.

Question 7

How can you prevent social inhibition?

Answer 7

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

Question 8

Write down the order these features would occur:
Dominant response
Evaluation apprehension
Audience
Increased arousal
Inhibition/Facilitation

Answer 8

1. Audience
2. Increased arousal
3. Evaluation apprehension
4. Dominant response
5. Inhibition - impaired performance, complex task, beginner (DR not developed)
   Facilitation - improved performance, simple task, expert (DR well learned)