AQA A-Level P.E - Social facilitation and inhibition notes

Sport psychology

Social facilitation and inhibition notes 

Theory 

Social facilitation and inhibition was suggested by psychologist zajonc in 1965, and explains the behavioural effect due to others being present (BEDTOP).

Zajonc states that others being present, increases a performers arousal/anxiety/drive, decreasing there information processing causing there dominant response to be expressed leading to either social facilitation or inhibition.

Types of others 

Zajonc suggested that there are four types of others split into two groups.

There are two groups of other:

• Passive 
• Interactive 

Passive

Passive people are the people who have indirect contact with the performer.

There are two types of others in the passive group:

• Audience - The people who watch an event. E.g - Spectators
• Co-actor - The people who are doing the same task but not in direct competition. E.g - joggers passing each other.

Interactive 

Interactive people are the people who have…