6.1 Arousal Flashcards
Arousal
A level of activation, a degree of readiness to perform
Drive theory
As arousal increases so does performance; increased motivation causes increased drive.
Formula: P=f(DxH)
Dominant response
The stand out response that the performer thinks is correct
Complex task
Where there is a lot of information to process - a performer may struggle with this at high arousal
Simple task
This doesn’t require much thinking and can be performed well at high arousal
Inverted-U theory
This is a theory linking arousal and performance by stating that increased arousal improves performance to an optimal point at moderate levels of arousal
Catastrophe theory
This theory suggests that increase arousal improves performance to an optimal point but then there is a dramatic reduction in performance when arousal increases beyond the optimal
Somatic anxiety
This is physiological and includes muscular tension and increased heart rate
Cognitive anxiety
This is psychological and includes loss of concentration and worries about performance
Extroverts
Extroverts are said to have naturally low levels of activation and can tolerate any increases in arousal
Introverts
Introverts are said to have naturally high levels of adrenaline and would perform best at low arousal
Reticular Activating System (RAS)
This controls the levels of adrenaline in the body
The zone of optimal functioning
This is an area of controlled arousal and high performance
Peak flow performance
This is the ultimate experience felt by athletes from a positive mental attitude, with supreme focus and efficiency
What can cause an increase in arousal?
Level of competition, effect of the audience (especially if being watched by an expert), frustrating circumstances (such as not playing well or losing)
