Arousal

Question 1

Identify 3 characteristics of the peak flow experience

Answer 1

Highly focus
High levels of confidence
Clear goals

Question 2

Using appropriate psychological theories, explain why performers may have different levels of optimum arousal

Answer 2

Drive theory- as arousal increases so does the likelihood of the dominant response. Experienced players perform better with higher levels of arousal and beginners perform better with low levels of arousal

Inverted u theory- as arousal increases, so does performance but only to a certain level. Optimum arousal occurs at moderate levels

Extroverts perform better with high levels of arousla, introverts perform better with low levels of arousal

Gross skills need high levels of aroual, fine skills need low levels of arousal

Experienced performers perform better with high arousal levels

Question 3

Using catastrophe theory, describe how over arousal may affect a players performers

Answer 3

As arousal increases, performance increases until a point and then performance rapidly decreases
Performance needs moderate levels of arousal
Performance can decrease or the performer can recover

Question 4

Discuss the effects evaluation apprehension may have on performance

Answer 4

Evaluation apprehension= a sense of anxiety caused by the pressure of people judging performance
Could lead to social facilitation or social inhibition

Social facilitation= where the skill is too easy or the performer is an expert and so their initial arousal is low. An increase in arousal will improve their
performance as the dominant response is likely to be correct

Social inhibition= where the skill is hard or the performer is a beginner, their initial level of arousal is high and their dominant response is likely to be incorrect. Therefore an increase in arousal is likely to deteriorate performance as it will go beyond their optimum level