Anxiety Flashcards
What is anxiety?
The negative aspect of stress or arousal.
> Can have positive or negative impact on performance
What are the two dimensions of anxiety?
> Cognitive anxiety
Somatic anxiety
What is cognitive anxiety?
> Psychological
Irrational thinking
Belief that they do not have ability to perform
Levels of attention are hindered with thoughts of fear and failure
What is somatic anxiety?
> Physiological
Body’s response to an individual’s belief that they can’t perform
Symptoms: increased heart rate, sweating, muscle tension, sickness
Symptoms increase anxiety or diminish over time
What are the two types of anxiety?
> Trait anxiety
State anxiety
What is trait anxiety?
A personality variable which predisposes us to perceive certain situations as threatening and experience high levels of arousal.
What is state anxiety?
An emotional response, often temporary, which exists in relation to particular situations. (varies in intensity)
e.g. penalty shoot out
What is the arousal-anxiety relationship?
> (over) arousal can lead to anxiety
Anxiety can aid athletes in reaching arousal level to optimally perform
Over arousal can lead to anxiety above optimum level, hindering performance
What is the catastrophe theory?
> Variation of inverted-U
Performance improves as arousal and anxiety increase
If above optimum, a complete loss of performance occurs
Plummet on graph
What is choking?
The drastic decrease in performance in any high stress situation
> Athlete becomes overly concerned in the outcome - ‘mental autopilot’ switched off
What are symptoms of anxiety?
Physiological: increased heart rate, blood pressure, sweating, respiration, dry mouth
Psychological: worry, inability to focus and make decisions, loss of control
Behavioural: pacing, raised voice, urination
What are stress-reduction techniques?
> Mental rehearsal
Visualisation
Imagery
Self talk
Pre-game routines
Relaxation techniques
Centring
Thought stopping
PMR (progressive muscle relaxation)
