6.1 SPORTS PSYCHOLOGY: Arousal in sport

Question 1

Arousal:

Answer 1

A level of activation, a degree of readiness to perform.

Question 2

Arousal…

Answer 2

• an energised state, a readiness to perform, a drive to achieve
• present before, during and after sport in varying levels
• arousal is important to give performers some degree of drive and enthusiasm, but too much can cause problems.

Question 3

What is increased arousal caused by?

Answer 3

• increased level of competition
• an audience
• frustrating situations: not playing well

Question 4

Drive theory:

Answer 4

• increased motivation causes increased drive, the more drive the more chance of an increase in performance and winning
• increases linear fashion
• performance is said to be a function of drive multiplied by habit: P=f(D x H)

Question 5

Dominant response:

Answer 5

The stand out response that the performer thinks is correct.

• at high level we pick up less information (attention narrowing) and focus on dominant response
• if the task is simple or the performer is a expert, this response will be correct
• if the task is complex or the performer is inexperienced (the novice) then performance may be impaired

Question 6

The Inverted U theory:

Answer 6

Theory linking arousal and performance by stating that increased arousal improves performance to an optimal point at moderate levels of arousal.