When There’s an Audience, People’s Performance Improves

[pjk]

Often people think performing in front of others will make them mess up, but a new study led by a Johns Hopkins University neuroscientist found the opposite: being watched makes people do better.

When people know they are being observed, parts of the brain associated with social awareness and reward invigorate a part of the brain that controls motor skills, improving their performance at skilled tasks. The findings, which could help people become more effective in the workplace and in school, are set to be published Friday in Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience.

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/new...eres_an_audience_peoples_performance_improves

 

[shadowslice e]

Interesting though it appears that they only tested every small audiences which I don't think is very useful when drawing conclusons for cubing comps (maybe just the delegate and the judge?).

Also I'd be interested to know if the volenteers knew each other well or if they were just random strangers.

 

[WombatWarrior17]

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/new...eres_an_audience_peoples_performance_improves

I've found this to be true for me (sometimes), my 3x3 averages in comp are a lot more consistent than my home averages, and anytime a friend watches me do a solve it seems like my lookahead improves. (this could just be in my head, though)

 

[Duncan Bannon]

I havn’t read the whole article, but from my experience if I know the person, I do poorly, but If It is strangers, It may be that I want to “prove my worth.”

 

[Dom]

When I first started cubing, I was slower when I was being judged at a comp. Now, I seem to do pretty well on the stage, although my best solves are done off-stage.
Maybe I got used to solving in front of people. IDK.
Anyone else experience this?

 

[cubeshepherd]

When I first started cubing, I was slower when I was being judged at a comp. Now, I seem to do pretty well on the stage, although my best solves are done off-stage.
Maybe I got used to solving in front of people. IDK.
Anyone else experience this?

Yes! I am the same way at competitions. For some reason I am always a little slower at competitions then when I practice at home, although it has gotten a little better over this last year. I also get pretty nervous at competitions and that is one of the reasons I do not preform as well.

 

[1001010101001]

I'm always slower in comps. So much pressure.