Social FacilitationSocial Facilitation

The effect of an audience The effect of an audience upon performanceupon performance

Learning Objectives:Learning Objectives:

1. To understand the affect social 1. To understand the affect social facilitation has upon sports facilitation has upon sports performances performances

2. To understand the different theories 2. To understand the different theories which explain the causes behind social which explain the causes behind social facilitation and inhibitionfacilitation and inhibition

3. To be able to explain strategies to 3. To be able to explain strategies to lessen the affect of social inhibition in lessen the affect of social inhibition in a performer Understand the theories a performer Understand the theories of social facilitation.of social facilitation.

Social Facilitation and Social Facilitation and Social InhibitionSocial Inhibition Basic concept is that the presence of Basic concept is that the presence of

an audience will increase arousal levels an audience will increase arousal levels which will then influence performance.which will then influence performance.

Social facilitationSocial facilitation – when the presence – when the presence of others of others has a has a positivepositive effect upon effect upon performanceperformance..

Social inhibitionSocial inhibition – when the presence of – when the presence of others others has ahas a negativenegative effect effect upon upon performanceperformance..

Definitions of Social Facilitation:

Social facilitation is the increased likelihood that someone will perform better at a task because of the mere presence of others. Mere presence can either come in the form of co-actors or an audience.

Zajonc’s drive theory Zajonc’s drive theory of social facilitationof social facilitation The mere presence of others is enough The mere presence of others is enough

to increase arousal.to increase arousal. This will lead the performer’s This will lead the performer’s

dominant responsedominant response occurring. occurring. Beneficial for those at autonomous Beneficial for those at autonomous

phase. Also aids simple skills and phase. Also aids simple skills and skills that have been over-learned skills that have been over-learned (grooved)(grooved)

Detrimental for those at cognitive or Detrimental for those at cognitive or associative phase. Also impedes associative phase. Also impedes performance of complex skills.performance of complex skills.

Types of “others”Types of “others”

Present others

Mere presence of others(passive others)

(Zajonc 1965) suggests that increased arousal from the presence of an audience increases drive.

Zajonc identified 4 main types of “present others”.

Interactive others

Passive silent audience

Co-actors /Non-threatening

fellow performers

Co-activecompetitors

Emotive supporters

Types of others… [think-pair-share]Types of others… [think-pair-share]

Task 1 – Task 1 – Simple/Complex tasks Simple/Complex tasks – card sort– card sort30 second hand/eye co-ordination 30 second hand/eye co-ordination

testtest On your ownOn your own With silent others present.With silent others present. With others joining in – not a With others joining in – not a

competition.competition. Against competitors.Against competitors. With emotive supporters.With emotive supporters.

Evaluation Apprehension.

-Cottrell (1968).

-Introduced the concept of being judged by the audience and consequent effects on performance.

-Increased arousal and anxiety occurs resulting from the evaluating audience.

-In this theory if a performer is confident in their ability to perform a task then the idea of being watched and evaluated should help to improve performance.

-Contrary to this if a performer is not confident in their ability then the notion of evaluation from an audience is more likely to hinder performance.

-The effect is made more intense if audience members are known to the performer or if it is an expert audience.

-For example – Parents

Friends

Scouts

Coaches

Judges.

Host nation Host nation often wins often wins

more Olympic more Olympic medalsmedals

Many Many examples of examples of teams who teams who have done well have done well in home in home national national tournaments.tournaments.

No travel No travel required required before game.before game.

Familiar Familiar surroundings/pitcsurroundings/pitc

hh

Expectation of Expectation of crowd to wincrowd to win

proximity of the proximity of the crowd to the crowd to the game may have game may have more effect than more effect than whether the whether the team is at home team is at home or away.or away.

This can be This can be dependant on dependant on

the type of sport the type of sport being playedbeing played

anxiety anxiety levels/arousal levels/arousal to increase.to increase.

Performing in Performing in front of an front of an

audience who audience who know you can know you can cause extra cause extra

pressure/high pressure/high expectations.expectations.

More home More home supporterssupporters

There is some There is some evidence that evidence that

officials tend to officials tend to favour the favour the home sidehome side

Homefield advantage debate…Homefield advantage debate…

Arguments ForArguments For

-More home supporters.-More home supporters.

-Familiar surroundings/pitch.-Familiar surroundings/pitch.

-No travel required before game.-No travel required before game.

-Many examples of teams who have -Many examples of teams who have done well in home national done well in home national tournaments e.g. France won the tournaments e.g. France won the World Cup in their home nation in World Cup in their home nation in 1998.1998.

-Host nation often wins more Olympic -Host nation often wins more Olympic medals than they have done at medals than they have done at previous and subsequent games.previous and subsequent games.

-There is some evidence that officials -There is some evidence that officials tend to favour the home side.tend to favour the home side.

Arguments AgainstArguments Against

-Performing in front of an audience -Performing in front of an audience who know you can cause extra who know you can cause extra pressure/high expectations.pressure/high expectations.

-This can cause anxiety levels/arousal -This can cause anxiety levels/arousal to increase.to increase.

-If the performer is not an expert then -If the performer is not an expert then this can cause performance levels this can cause performance levels to fall.to fall.

-The nature of the audience can affect -The nature of the audience can affect arousal levels.arousal levels.

-If the crowd is -If the crowd is noisy/competitive/aggressive then noisy/competitive/aggressive then a performer could be negatively a performer could be negatively affected.affected.

-This can be dependant on the type of -This can be dependant on the type of sport being played.sport being played.

-The proximity of the crowd to the -The proximity of the crowd to the game may have more effect than game may have more effect than whether the team is at home or whether the team is at home or away.away.

Proximity effectProximity effect

When the audience is close to the When the audience is close to the action it will have a greater action it will have a greater influence.influence.

This could help to explain home This could help to explain home advantage which is most evident advantage which is most evident in indoor sports such as ice in indoor sports such as ice hockey and basketball.hockey and basketball.

Baron’s Distraction – Conflict theory.

-Baron (1986).

-Stated that performers must focus on the task in hand.

-Any distractions will hinder performance.

-A performer should direct attention to the task and ignore distractions.

-The effect of an audience on simple/well learned skills is less than on difficult/new skills.

Strategies which a coach could use to help performers cope with Social Inhibition

-Teach coping strategies. -Coach must work together with the performer. -Mental rehearsal – going over sub-routines/movements in

the head. -Initially teach/coach in a non-evaluative situation. -Positive thinking. -Encourage support from team mates. -Avoid comparison to others. -Increase self efficacy. -Improve selective attention to positive cues/cut out

audience effects. -Reduce the importance of the event/winning isn’t

everything. -Use attribution theory (the reasons a performer gives for

success/failure) – Attribute to outside factors. -Improve concentration levels. -Include spectators in practice sessions. Gradually increasing

audience numbers. -Ensure skills are over learned so that the dominant

response will be correct. -Progress gradually to give early success.

Write a paragraph explaining which 3 you Write a paragraph explaining which 3 you think are the most important strategies in think are the most important strategies in reducing social inhibition and explain reducing social inhibition and explain why?why?