Dominant Responses

Dominant Responses

1. Zajonc observed that performance of a well learned task is enhanced by the presence of others

2. performance of new or complx tasks is inhibited by others' presence

3. dominant response refers to the behaviour that we are most likely to perform in a certain situation

4. for someone who is skilled at a task, the dominant response is to do well, for someone who is unskilled, the dominant response is to not do well

5. Michaels et al 1982

   • wanted to test the prediction that the presence of an audience would facilitate well-learned behaviours and inhibit poorly learned behaviours
   • observed students playing pool, selected 12 players, 6 above average and 6 below
     • 4 observers then stood around the table
   • above average players potted more when being observed than when alone and below average players potted less when observed that when alone
     • the presence of an audience supports Zajonc's theory of dominant responses
       • the dominant response of skilled people is to do well and of unskilled people is to not do well