👤 Important Figure
- Zajonc (1965) - Developed social facilitation theory
🔑 Key Theory: Social Facilitation
Zajonc (1965): Audience presence affects performance based on skill level
Skilled Athletes: Audience IMPROVES performance
Less Skilled Athletes: Audience HURTS performance
Explains why novices "choke" under pressure
Skilled Athletes: Audience IMPROVES performance
Less Skilled Athletes: Audience HURTS performance
Explains why novices "choke" under pressure
🏡 Home Advantage
- Exists in basketball, baseball, football, ice hockey, soccer
- Main Causes: Supportive crowds + familiarity with venue
- Teams win more games at home than away
⚠ Home Disadvantage
Can occur when fan expectations are TOO HIGH
Creates excessive pressure → mistakes and choking
Example: Championship games with intense pressure
Creates excessive pressure → mistakes and choking
Example: Championship games with intense pressure
👥 Crowd Characteristics
- Size: Larger crowds = bigger home advantage
- Density: Denser crowds = stronger effect
- Intimacy: Closer crowds = greater impact
- Hostility: Hostile crowds hurt visiting teams
📈 Athlete Beliefs
- Athletes believe home court = advantage
- Main reasons: familiarity + crowd support
- Belief itself can become self-fulfilling prophecy
💡 Exam Tips
- Zajonc 1965: skilled performers improve, unskilled worsen with audience
- Home advantage exists in 5 sports: basketball, baseball, football, ice hockey, soccer
- Can be disadvantage when expectations too high
- 3 crowd factors: larger, denser, more intimate = bigger advantage
- Athletes attribute advantage to familiarity + crowd support