Name: audience effects on performance
Uploaded: 2020-02-12T11:07:46.000Z
Duration: 1 min 4 s
Channel: JoVE

K12 Standards

Pennsylvania State Academic Standards

9-12

Life Science

interdependent-relationships-in-ecosystems

Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems

3.1.9-12.O

Social Facilitation

When someone is really good at something, they can perform even better if they&rsquo;re in front of an audience. This phenomenon is referred to as social facilitation&mdash;enhanced performance on well-rehearsed tasks in the presence of others.

On the flip side, if an individual finds a task like dancing difficult, he&rsquo;s worse in front of the crowd, even if the packed environment is friendly.

So, why does the presence of people sometimes strengthen an act and at other times, hinder responses?

When watching the game, notice that the player who&rsquo;s &ldquo;on&rdquo; becomes energized. The arousal leads to an amplification of scoring more points. However, the same aroused state causes the improvising dancer to increase the number of incorrect moves, instead of the correct ones. &nbsp;

Such states explain why nerves can get the best of someone during crowded routines and play into the so-called &ldquo;home-team&rdquo; advantage in sports.

social facilitation

Not all intergroup interactions lead to&nbsp;negative outcomes.&nbsp;Sometimes, being in a group situation can improve performance. Social facilitation&nbsp;occurs when an individual performs better when an audience is watching than when the individual performs the behavior alone. This typically occurs when people are performing a task for which they are skilled.

Can you think of an example in which having an audience could improve performance? One common example is sports. Skilled basketball players will be more likely to make a free throw basket when surrounded by a cheering audience than when playing alone in the gym. However, there are instances when even skilled athletes can have difficulty under pressure. For example, if an athlete is less skilled or nervous about making a free throw, having an audience may actually hinder rather than help. In sum, social facilitation is likely to occur for easy tasks, or tasks at which we are skilled, but worse performance may occur when performing in front of others, depending on the task.

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This&nbsp;text&nbsp;is adapted from <a href="https://cnx.org/contents/Sr8Ev5Og@10.24:-A77Qv6j@14/12-4-Conformity-Compliance-and-Obedience" target="_blank">OpenStax, Psychology. OpenStax CNX.</a>

Not all intergroup interactions lead to&nbsp;negative outcomes.&nbsp;Sometimes, being in a group situation can improve performance. Social ...

Education

JoVE Core

Social Psychology

Foundations of Social Psychology

Group Dynamics

KEY TERMS AND CONCEPTS

audience effects on performance

Social facilitation is the effect of an audience on performance. It happens when a person does better while others are watching than when the same behavior is done alone. This pattern is most likely when the person is skilled at the task.

A common example is sports. A skilled basketball player may be more likely to make a free throw when a cheering crowd is watching than when practicing alone in the gym. The audience can seem to boost performance on tasks that are easy or familiar.

But the effect is not always helpful. Less skilled or nervous performers may do worse in front of others. In those cases, the audience can create pressure instead of support. Social facilitation depends on the task and on how comfortable the person is with it.

Audience Effects on Performance

Social facilitation is the effect of an audience on performance. It happens when a person does better while others are watching than when the same behavior is done alone. This pattern is most likely when the person is skilled at the task. A common example is sports. A skilled basketball player may be more likely to make a free throw when a cheering crowd is watching than when practicing alone in the gym. The audience can seem to boost performance on tasks that are easy or familiar. But the...

social loafing

When Group Work Causes Less Effort

Social loafing is when a person puts in less effort while working with a group. It happens when individual performance cannot be judged on its own. In that situation, group performance often drops on easy tasks. When people think their work will blend into the group result, they may let others do more. A roadside litter cleanup shows this well. Some people may work very hard, while others do little. The job still gets done, but it may be hard to tell who contributed the most. Students can...

group polarization

How Group Discussion Intensifies Opinions

Group polarization is the strengthening of an original attitude after people discuss their views in a group. When a group starts out favoring a position, discussion often leads to an even stronger endorsement of that position. When a group starts out against a position, discussion can lead to stronger opposition instead. This effect helps explain group actions that individuals might not choose on their own. One example is a political convention, where party platforms can gain strong support...

groupthink

Why Groups Make Risky Choices

Groupthink is a social psychology pattern in which people in a group change their opinions to match what they think the group wants. It often happens in settings where people are surrounded by the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of others. Groups can end up making more extreme choices than individuals would make alone, and that can weaken disagreement and careful thinking. Groupthink is more likely when a group is highly cohesive, meaning it feels closely connected. In that setting, keeping...

deindividuation

Deindividuation in Crowds and Groups

Deindividuation is a social influence process that can change how people act in crowds and groups. In these settings, a person may show unusual or non-normal behavior because they no longer see themselves as a single individual. This loss of personal focus can reduce restraint and make behavior less inhibited. The idea began in the late 1800s with social psychologist Gustave Le Bon. He proposed that behavior can differ when a person is in a crowd compared with being alone. Le Bon said that...

key terms and concepts

Learn how social facilitation changes performance in front of an audience, with a sports example and why skilled or nervous performers may react differently.

Audience Effects on Performance | JoVE K12

JoVE Core Social Psychology offers a comprehensive learning experience on the principles of social behavior through concise, animated video lessons. The series explores key topics such as self-concept, social cognition, group dynamics, stereotypes, and relationships. It provides a structured foundation for understanding human behavior in social situations. Students gain insights into how individuals think, feel, and behave in social contexts while examining the psychological processes that influence interactions and judgments. By integrating theory with real-world applications, these lessons offer a clear and engaging approach to mastering essential concepts in social psychology.

social psychology

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3.1.9-12.V

Audience Effects on Performance

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