Social Facilitation

Positive influence of others presence on performance Enhances performance (others may be watching or competing)

Negative influence of others presence on performance Decreases performance (others may be watching or competing)

• Audience increases arousal • Arousal makes dominant response more likely to occur • Skill simple / player is expert –> dominant response correct & performance improves • Skill complex / player is novice –> dominant response incorrect & performance declines

• Not audience that raises arousal • Can have calming effect • Performer thinks others judge them (hence become anxious and less confident –> neg impacts performance) • Could be someone in crowds opinion is important (e.g. selector)

• Presence of others will either cause performer to ‘choke’ or play exceptionally • Factors that affect impact of an audience 1. Home/away 2. Personality of performer 3. Level of experience 4. Type of skill activity

• High anxiety (type A) perform less well with audience • Type B lower levels of trait anxiety • Extroverts seek high arousal situs so perform better with audience • Introverts shy away from social situs as have high internal arousal

• Previous experience in front of audience • Elite or highly skilled performers • Crowds knowledge • People you know

• Simple & Gross performed in high arousal • Audience increases arousal and facilitates performance • Don’t require high perceptual processing • If skills Fine/Complex lower arousal desirable for optimal performance • Require high perceptual processing

• Teams often win more at home • This to do with nature of audience –> fans away could be hostile / teams alienated by environment • Some players perform better as away there is no pressure from people they know

• Can’t predict behaviour of performer • Mentally prepare • Coaches prepare athletes to cope with audiences • Can’t prepare for personality/reaction from opposition

• Selective attention • Play down importance of event • Overlearn skills • Mental rehearsal/imagery • Positive self talk • Practice in front of audience • Positive reinforcement