arousal

Question 1

What is arousal?

Answer 1

Arousal can be a neutral psychological or physiological state and is the state of readiness or alertness before performing.

Question 2

What are the four theories of arousal?

Answer 2

Drive theory
The Inverted U theory
The Catastrophe theory
Individual Zones of Optimal Functioning

Question 3

What is the drive theory?

Answer 3

Drive theory presents the performance - arousal relationship as linear. This means that when arousal increases, performance increases. This is not an accurate representation as this theory only matches to weight training sports.

Question 4

What is the Inverted U theory?

Answer 4

The Inverted U theory is revised on the implications of the drive theory. It states that when arousal increases, performances increases until an optimal arousal where the performer works at their best performance. After this, the higher their arousal, their performance experiences a gradual decrease.

Question 5

What is the Catastrophe theory?

Answer 5

The catastrophe theory expands on the Inverted U theory with the idea of arousal and performance increasing with a linear relationship until the optimal arousal has been reached. However, if an athelte has high levels of cognitive anxiety, once their arousal reaches the threshold, their performance experiences a drastic decrease.

Question 6

What is the Individual Zones of Optimal Functioning?

Answer 6

Individual Zones of Optimal Functioning states that each athelete has different arousal levels can remain in that zone for a period of time. It also suggests that after the athelte reaches the optimal arousal zone, the atheltes performance decreases gradually. An athlete with low IZOF will experience their ‘in zone’ time early into the activity. And an athlete with a high IZOF will experience their ‘in zone’ time later on in the activity.