Arousal Flashcards
Definition of arousal
A degree of readiness to perform.
What is the drive theory?
Initial motivation causes increased drive, effort, success and a repetition of the same response.
P = f (D x H)
Definition of dominant response
The stand-out response that the performer thinks is correct.
Drive theory for elite and novice performers
- The more an elite athlete is aroused, the better their performance due to the dominant response being chosen is habitual.
- If a novice is aroused, performance can deteriorate due to dominant response being incorrect.
What does the inverted U Theory suggest?
Increased arousal improves performance but only to a moderate level, and after this point performance can suffer.
Problems with inverted U theory?
Critics question if optimal arousal always occurs at the mid point of the curve.
One curve doesn’t explain the different optimal levels of arousal needed for simple and complex tasks.
What is the catastrophe theory?
Suggests that increased arousal improves performance to an optimal point but there is a dramatic reduction in performance when arousal increases beyond the optimal.
Impacts of under arousal
- Poor selective attention
- Cues missed
- Social loafing
- Ringelmann effect
- Poor reaction time and decision making
- Attentional wastage
- Attentional narrowing
Impacts of over arousal
- Poor selective attention
- Cues missed
- Poor reaction time and decision making
- Attentional wastage
- Attentional narrowing
- Violence
- Break rules
Definition of attentional wastage
When performers concentration is directed to irrelevant cues.
Definition of attentional narrowing
Occurs when performer is aroused so they focus on certain cues and ignore others.
Definition of social loafing
Individual loss of motivation in a team player due to a lack of performance identification when efforts aren’t recognised.
What is the Ringelmann effect?
When a teams performance decreases with group size.
What is the zone of optimal functioning?
An area of controlled arousal and high level performance.
What does the ‘zone’ feel like?
- Effortless flow
- State of supreme confidence
- Remains calm under the upmost pressure
- In total control of their actions
- Totally focused on the activity
