Arousal Flashcards
Define arousal
A physical and mental state of readiness and alertness
What can increase arousal levels
increased level of competition,audience and frustrating circumstances
What does the drive theory suggest
As arousal increases so does performance
Define the dominant response
The standout response that the performer thinks is correct
What is the disadvantage of a novice performer having the dominant response
They are likely to miss important cues such as information and tactics which is likely to negatively affect performance
What does the inverted u theory suggest
Increased arousal improves performance up to an optimum point (typically moderate levels of arousal),after which performance gradually decreases as arousal increases
What does the catastrophe theory suggest
Increased arousal improves performance to an optimal point but there is a drastic reduction in performance when arousal increases beyond the optimal point
-however there is a chance for recovery,returning the performer back to low arousal levels
What is the zone of optimal functioning
This suggests that the optimum level of performance is dependent on the preferred performance level of the performer (low,moderate or high)
What sports would need a low,moderate and high zone of optimum functioning
Low-golf,darts
Moderate-football,basketball
High-Weightlifters
What is peak flow
the ultimate intrinsic experience felt by athletes from a positive mental attitude,with supreme confidence,focus and efficiency
What factors affect peak flow
Poor mental preparation,failure to reach optimum arousal levels
environmental influences such as pressure from fans
the effect of injury or fatigue during a game
What are some criticisms for all the theories of arousal
-too simplistic
-doesn’t take into account different activities
-doesn’t take into account different stages of learning
-doesn’t take into account different personalities
