2.2.5. Arousal Flashcards
What is arousal?
The intensity of our behaviour or the amount of drive we experience to achieve something.
What are the two types of arousal?
somatic
cognitive
What is somatic arousal?
Relates to changing physiological state of the body
Example of somatic arousal
Increased heart rate
What is cognitive arousal?
Relates to changing psychological state of the body
Example of cognitive arousal?
Increase anxiety
What are the three theories of arousal?
drive theory
inverted u theory
catastrophe theory
Who was drive theory proposed by?
Hull
What is the drive theory?
- A linear relationship between performance and arousal.
- Performance increases in line with an increase in arousal.
- Dominant response is more likely as arousal increases
- Quality of performance depends on how well skills have been learnt
- Expert performers’ dominant response is skilful and technically correct
What is the equation for performance?
habit x drive
What is the dominant response?
A well learned skill that the performer will revert to when under competitive pressure.
Strengths of drive theory
+ Simple to understand
+ Made more reliable/ accurate by relating arousal to dominant response
+ For some performers (experts/ extroverts), accurate by relating arousal to dominant response
+ More accurate for gross/ simple skills e.g. sprinting/ weightlifting
Weaknesses of drive theory
- Quality of performance doesn’t always increase as arousal increases
- Too simplistic a view of relationship between arousal and performance.
- Doesn’t explain why some experts/ extroverts perform well at low arousal e.g. scoring a goal when you aren’t trying in training
What is the inverted u theory?
- As arousal increases so does performance up to an optimal mid point
- Any further increases in arousal leads to a gradual decrease in performance
Where is optimum performance at low levels of arousal?
- Cognitive performers -> inexperienced and unable to deal with high levels of arousal
- introverts -> high levels of RAS so perform better at low arousal
- Fine skills -> require high levels of precision and control, low levels of arousal produce more effective results
- Complex skills -> require several decisions to be made so here more effective at low levels of arousal
Where is optimum performance at higher levels of arousal?
- Autonomous performers -> experienced and therefore able to perform successfully with increased arousal levels
- Extroverts -> low levels of RAS so are able to perform when arousal levels are high
- Gross skills -> don’t require precision and control so can be performed at high levels of arousal
- Simple skills -> require few decisions to be made so more effective at high arousal levels
Strengths of inverted u theory
+ seen to be more realistic than drive theory
+ it’s true there’s an optimum point of arousal -> above or below this level then performance quality is lower
+ Simple, easy to understand or apply
+ Helps teachers/ coaches to understand and effect arousal on performance
+ recognises that optimal arousal differs for different people
Weaknesses of inverted u theory
- still too simple with a limited view of the relationship between arousal and performance
- doesn’t consider the different types of arousal on performance
- could be said to be too even a distribution
- doesn’t say what happens after people under perform when over aroused -> performance starts to deteriorate, it doesn’t always carry on getting worse
What does the catastrophe theory show?
- Shows extreme decline -> a catastrophic response.
- Theory is about the effects of different types of arousal
Sporting examples of catastrophe theory?
- a footballer putting in an early dangerous tackle in a cup final
- a golfer on the final green experiences anxiety and messes an easy putt
What is the catastrophe theory?
- As arousal increases, performance increases up to an optimum/ midway point
- If high somatic arousal interacts with high cognitive arousal = extreme decline - performance catastrophe
- If arousal (cognitive) is controlled, performance can improve/ the upward curve can be rejoined ///// if arousal continues to increase, then performance will continue to decrease
What are the strengths of catastrophe theory?
+ More realistic than other theories- explains why a performance ‘goes to pieces’ during a big event
+ Explains why performance can suddenly or dramatically decline
+ Explains how some performers can recover and rejoin the upward curve of arousal
+ It’s a multidimensional theory - takes various factors into account
+ Currently the most accepted theory of arousal
What are the weaknesses of catastrophe theory?
- Some performers never experience a sudden decline (but a slow decline, as suggested by inverted u)
- Optimal arousal may not be mid-way point
- Doesn’t take into account personality/ level of performer/ type of skill
What is peak flow experience?
- A term used by sports performers who achieve optimum performance levels and associate this with a particular emotional response.
- Describes feelings when almost nothing can go wrong - they are ‘in the zone’
- Mental strategies which can help performers achieve this experience
