Arousal

Question 1

Define arousal:

Answer 1

A state of readiness

Question 2

What are the 2 components of arousal?

Answer 2

Somatic (Physiological)

Cognitive (Psychological)

Question 3

What are the 4 arousal theories?

Answer 3

Drive Theory
Inverted U Theory
Catastrophe Theory
Zone of Optimal Functioning

Question 4

Describe the Drive Theory:

Answer 4

Linear +ve relationship between arousal and performance

Question 5

Advantages and Disadvantages of Drive Theory:

Answer 5

+ Explains why novices don’t perform well under pressure (and vice versa)
+ Good for weightlifters
- Bad for snooker players
- Rare that exact +ve correlation will be seen
- Doesn’t include other factors

Question 6

Describe the Inverted U Theory:

Answer 6

Arousal improves performance up to a certain point -> then begins to drop off
Affected by a number of factors

Question 7

What 4 factors affect Inverted U Theory?

Answer 7

Personality
Task type
Learning Stage
Prev experiences

Question 8

Advantages and Disadvantages of Inverted U Theory

Answer 8

+ Includes diff factors
+ Recognises diff level for diff people
- Rarely a smooth inc/dec is seen
- Doesn’t account for dramatic decrease

Question 9

Describe the Catastrophe Theory:

Answer 9

Performance increases gradually with arousal

Then reaches tipping point where they have gone over the edge

Question 10

Advantages and Disadvantages of Catastrophe Theory:

Answer 10

+ More realistic than others
+Explains dramatic decline
- Doesn’t include personality/skill level

Question 11

Describe the Zone of Optimal Functioning:

Answer 11

Athletes have a zone of optimal performance
This optimal level is a band width
Outside zone = poor performance