Anyone else get worse when being watched or playing with friends?

[SeriousSquirrel]

So, this is generally in regard of multiplayer. I'm not the greatest black ops player out there but I'm pretty good. That is, until I have someone Looking over my shoulder. I tend to get nervous & very self aware of my performance, and as a result I lose my ?flow?. Does anyone else suffer from this problem, or a similar one?

 

[CATB320]

Yeah, I've noticed that when I'm in a party playing Battlefield (for example), I don't do as well as when I'm playing solo and not talking to anyone. Then again, one of my friends never stops talking ever. I guess it's distracting.

 

[vidirg]

HAPPENS EVERY FREAKING TIME. I hate it so much, also when asked questions by friends I usually dont know the answer but after a while when he's gone I suddenly remember.

 

[Zanderinfal]

I actually get better, strange as it sounds...

I know, I'm a freak But I still have the advantage so hey!

 

[NeutralDrow]

I actually get better, strange as it sounds...

Same. I dunno why, I'm not a very social person, but having an audience during a game just...helps somehow. It doesn't feel so much like pressure to perform as it does having an excuse to show off and go all out.

Granted, I mostly see it when I'm doing something solo for an audience (like DDR), but I've noticed it in multiplayer games, as well.

 

[R3VOLU7ION]

Overall I get better, but I ALWAYS make a stupid simple mistake that should never be made.

 

[Sansha]

I don't think you get worse, rather you notice your flaws a hell of a lot more knowing people are watching you make mistakes.

 

[Smiles]

I get worse because I tend to become more show-offy

 

[Indignator]

This is an example of a well known psychological phenomenon called social facilitation (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_facilitation [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_facilitation]). Basically if you are good at something (or are merely confident in your abilities) you will do better when others are watching, but if you are a novice at something (or merely have doubts about your abilities) you will do worse when others are watching.

EDIT: Fixed the link.

 

[Phlakes]

Christ, yes, when someone walks in I just lose all the drive. And if I'm lucky I can get my pants back on befo-

...Oh... games, yeah, of course, that's what I meant...

 

[Dirty Hipsters]

Usually when someone is watching me I get worse for a game or 2 until I adjust to the fact that someone is watching me, and then I start playing better than normal because I start showing off and nailing shots I would usually not even try for.

 

[him over there]

I don't really. The only game I play competitively is pokemon so everyone watching is just a username spectating. This does however happen whenever I record my let's plays. I do post commentary by the way so it isn't because I'm constantly split between play and talk either.

 

[Argtee]

I always feel uneasy when someone's looking over my shoulder.
Like they're going to judge how well I play.

Then I start failing...

 

[Mallefunction]

So, this is generally in regard of multiplayer. I'm not the greatest black ops player out there but I'm pretty good. That is, until I have someone Looking over my shoulder. I tend to get nervous & very self aware of my performance, and as a result I lose my ?flow?. Does anyone else suffer from this problem, or a similar one?

I'm like this only when I tell my friends to 'watch me pull off this sweet move'. See, when people casually look over my shoulder, it's no big deal. The problem arises if I get their attention and try to show them something specific. It's the same when I do other things as well. ("LOOK HOW FAST I CAN TYPE!" *Makes 50 mistakes in one sentence in an attempt to be as fast as I normally am with a crowd watching* "Well shit...")

 

[Something Amyss]

I don't get performance anxiety when gaming.

Now, OTHER things....

(By which I mean, music. What else could I mean?)

 

[Elvis Starburst]

I usually need a second or two to adjust being watched over, but once I get used to it, I start kicking ass like a boss :3