2.2.5. Arousal

Question 1

What is arousal?

Answer 1

The intensity of our behaviour or the amount of drive we experience to achieve something.

Question 2

What are the two types of arousal?

Answer 2

somatic
cognitive

Question 3

What is somatic arousal?

Answer 3

Relates to changing physiological state of the body

Question 4

Example of somatic arousal

Answer 4

Increased heart rate

Question 5

What is cognitive arousal?

Answer 5

Relates to changing psychological state of the body

Question 6

Example of cognitive arousal?

Answer 6

Increase anxiety

Question 7

What are the three theories of arousal?

Answer 7

drive theory
inverted u theory
catastrophe theory

Question 8

Who was drive theory proposed by?

Answer 8

Hull

Question 9

What is the drive theory?

Answer 9

• 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

Question 10

What is the equation for performance?

Answer 10

habit x drive

Question 11

What is the dominant response?

Answer 11

A well learned skill that the performer will revert to when under competitive pressure.

Question 12

Strengths of drive theory

Answer 12

+ 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

Question 13

Weaknesses of drive theory

Answer 13

• 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

Question 14

What is the inverted u theory?

Answer 14

• As arousal increases so does performance up to an optimal mid point
• Any further increases in arousal leads to a gradual decrease in performance

Question 15

Where is optimum performance at low levels of arousal?

Answer 15

• 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

Question 16

Where is optimum performance at higher levels of arousal?

Answer 16

• 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

Question 17

Strengths of inverted u theory

Answer 17

+ 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

Question 18

Weaknesses of inverted u theory

Answer 18

• 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

Question 19

What does the catastrophe theory show?

Answer 19

• Shows extreme decline -> a catastrophic response.
• Theory is about the effects of different types of arousal

Question 20

Sporting examples of catastrophe theory?

Answer 20

• 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

Question 21

What is the catastrophe theory?

Answer 21

• 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

Question 22

What are the strengths of catastrophe theory?

Answer 22

+ 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

Question 23

What are the weaknesses of catastrophe theory?

Answer 23

• 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

Question 24

What is peak flow experience?

Answer 24

• 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