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Skydiving under
the Influence
By Musika Farnsworth A look at group influence in skydiving shows that skydivers generally perform in a different manner in front of others.
In the 1970s, researchers discovered a phenomenon called social loafing, where people performed tasks with less effort when in groups than when alone. But social loafing does not always occur. Exceptions to the rule are when the task is involving, when the task has incentives, when group members are friends or when everyone identifies with the group (rather than strangers). These exceptions would seem to indicate that subconscious and unintentional social loafing would be extremely rare in skydiving. However, that's not necessarily the case, as several skydiving competitors and coaches have noted. Not surprisingly, the larger the group, the greater the likelihood of social loafing. For example, a 4-way team member with a videographer filming the jump at close range will feel highly accountable and responsible. Pressure to perform can also work against success. Research shows that when a person is under pressure, he will perform the action that comes most naturally to him. This may explain why there is such a high likelihood that a skydiver will perform worse if he changes his usual flying technique before an important skydive. Most likely, the dominant skill—the one the jumper has practiced extensively—will override even the best intentions to change it when under pressure. A skydiver doesn't have to be in a competition or on a record attempt to feel pressure. Just the feeling that he is being evaluated can have the same effect. Research shows that, generally, as the audience size increases, evaluation apprehension increases, and skill level decreases. But not all skydivers find performing in front of others or under pressure difficult. Research in the early 1990s found that highly trained athletes (whose actions become both dominant and automatic) actually performed better in front of others. |
