Enjoyment of a Televised Sport Contest under Different Social Conditions of Viewing

Abstract

50 male and 33 female subjects viewed the televised 1976 Olympic basketball championship game, U.S. vs Yugoslavia, under “natural conditions,” i.e., as they pleased at home or anywhere, and rated their enjoyment of scoring plays. Subjects were later grouped according to the social condition of viewing: alone, with another person, in a small group, or in a larger group. Counter to social facilitation expectations, the enjoyment of U.S. baskets was not affected by the social condition of watching. Moreover, in the large-group condition, increased enjoyment of, rather than disappointment with, Yugoslav scoring plays was observed.