4. Anxiety Flashcards
Anxiety
A level of nerves and irrational thinking
Competitive trait anxiety
when a player feel nerves before most games and could simply be part of the players genetic make-up
Competitive state anxiety
is more temporary and is a response to a particular moment in the game or a specific sporting situation
Features of competitive trait anxiety
Consistent
Stable
A player worrying before all games
Anxious behaviour all the time
Features of competitive state anxiety
Situation dependant
Temporary rush of anxiety
Can be cognitive and/or somatic
What are the two types of anxiety
Somatic
Cognitive
Somatic anxiety
A physiological response to a threat such as increased heart rate
Cognitive anxiety
A psychological response such as worrying about losing
Somatic anxiety symptoms
Increased heart rate
Pacing
Shaking
Sweating
Poor co-ordination
Muscular tension
Cognitive anxiety symptoms
Irrational thinking - nerves
Worrying
Confusion
Loss of concentration
What type of graph is somatic anxiety similar to
Inverted U
(Somatic anxiety has an identical effect on performance as increased arousal does in the inverted-U theory. Increases in somatic anxiety can improve performance up to a point.)
What graph is cognitive anxiety similar to
Negative linear
( the greater the cognitive anxiety, he worse the performance)
What are the three ways you can measure anxiety ?
Questionnaires
Observation
psychological testing
Questionnaire
A set of questions to measure or assess something, in this case anxiety.
Positives of questionnaires
Quick , cheap and easy results allow easy comparison
Negatives of questionnaires to measure anxiety
Inaccurate answers
Untruthful answers
Misinterpretation of questions
Answers may depend on mood
Questions may be innapropriate
Responses can be rushed
Observation
Gaining a measure of (in this case ) anxiety simply by watching the performer
Benefits of using observation to measure anxiety
True to life
During real game
Disadvantages of using observation to measure anxiety
Subjective
Must know performer
Time consuming
Behaviour may change if they know they are being watched
2 examples of questionnaires used by sport psychologists to measure anxiety
sports competitive anxiety test (SCAT) was then extended to competitive sport anxiety inventory (CSAI)
Positives of measuring anxiety through physiological measures
Factual and allow comparisons
Responses measured in real game situation
Negative of measuring anxiety through physiological measures
I Training is often required so that coaches can learn how to use the devices; the cost of them may deter amateur performers from using them.
2 In some cases actually wearing the measuring device, such as a heart rate monitor, may restnict movement in sport.
3 The fact that the performer is aware that they are being measured may cause additional stress and give a false reading
