SP- Social facilitation and Inhibition

Question 1

Give the two theories of social facilitation and evaluation apprehension

Answer 1

• The drive theory of social facilitation

* Evaluation apprehension theory

Question 2

Describe drive theory (social facilitation)

Answer 2

As arousal increases, so does the likelihood of the dominant response occurring. The theory states that the mere presence of others increased arousal levels and so increases the likelihood of the dominant response occurring

Question 3

What are co-actors

Answer 3

People performing at the same time as you, but not competing e.g golf driving range

Question 4

Do extroverts or introverts perform better in the presence of an audience (and why)

Answer 4

Extroverts as they have an under aroused RAS

Question 5

Describe Cottrell’s evaluation apprehension theory

Answer 5

Increased arousal only occurred when the performer perceived that the audience was assessing or judging performance

Question 6

Give 2 factors which affect whether the perception of being judged is inhibiting or facilitating

Answer 6

• Personality of performer
o i.e extrovert enjoys being evaluated
• Levels of trait anxiety
o i.e trait is always anxious, state sometimes is
• Age and Gender
o Older deal better than younger/ male okay, female not
• Knowledge of crowd
o Home crowd more supportive than a moderator
• Status of the observer
o Friends are okay, teacher depends, examiner worry
• Size/closeness of the crowd
o Bigger and close not okay

Question 7

Name the three other theories associated with social facilitation

Answer 7

Homefield advantage
Proximity effect
Distraction-conflict theory

Question 8

Describe the homefield advantage

Answer 8

a. Teams tend to win more home matches than away ones. This is due to familiarity with surroundings and larger, more supportive crowds
b. This is particularly true for early rounds of competitions
c. However later rounds mean there is more pressure which can override the home advantage

Question 9

Describe the proximity effect

Answer 9

a. The social facilitation effect is increased the closer the audience is to the performer generally
b. This is prevalent in sports such as ice hockey

Question 10

Describe the distraction-conflict theory

Answer 10

a. The audience causes distraction and takes up attentional capacity (focus)
b. Simple skills such as long jump may not be affected but complex skills e.g. pole vault may experience social inhibition

Question 11

Give 4 ways to combat the effect of social inhibition on performance

Answer 11

• Teach in a non-evaluative environment to begin with
• Avoid social comparison with others
• Encourage teammates to be supportive
• Ensure skills are ground before crowd is introduced
• Teach confidence building strategies e.g. positive self-talk
• Practice in the presence of an audience to get used to the spectator effect
• Develop mental rehearsal skills to enhance concentration and block out an audience
• Use somatic relaxation techniques
• Improve selective attention by blocking out irrelevant cues
• Reduce the importance of the event to decrease perceived accountability