arousal Flashcards
What is arousal in sport?
Arousal is a physiological and psychological state of alertness and readiness to perform. It exists on a continuum from deep sleep to intense excitement.
What are the two types of arousal?
Somatic arousal – physical changes (e.g., increased heart rate, breathing rate)
Cognitive arousal – mental changes (e.g., worry, alertness, concentration)
What is the Drive Theory of arousal?
As arousal increases, so does performance, but only if the skill is well-learned (dominant response).
Formula: Performance = Arousal × Habit strength
Limitations of Drive Theory?
Doesn’t explain why performance sometimes decreases at high arousal
Over-arousal can lead to poor decision-making or errors
What is the Inverted-U Hypothesis?
Performance improves with increased arousal up to an optimal point. After that, too much arousal causes performance to decline.
What factors affect the shape of the Inverted-U curve?
Skill level
Type of task (fine vs gross skills)
Personality (introvert vs extrovert)
Experience level
What is the Catastrophe Theory?
Performance improves with arousal until a point, but if cognitive anxiety is high, performance can suddenly drop (catastrophe). Recovery requires reduction in arousal.
What is the Individual Zones of Optimal Functioning (IZOF)?
Each athlete has a unique zone of arousal where they perform best. It’s not always a fixed point and varies person-to-person.
What is the Reticular Activating System (RAS)?
A part of the brain that controls arousal and alertness. Influenced by personality and environment (e.g., loud crowd can activate RAS).
How does arousal affect information processing?
Low arousal = broad attention, may miss important cues
High arousal = narrowed attention, risk of missing environmental cues
How does arousal influence performance of different skills?
Fine, complex skills (e.g., snooker shot) = low arousal needed
Gross, simple skills (e.g., sprinting) = high arousal is beneficial
Name 3 techniques to manage arousal levels.
Somatic control: breathing control, PMR
Cognitive control: imagery, positive self-talk
Pre-performance routines
