Arousal

Question 1

What is arousal?

Answer 1

An energised state, a readiness to perform

Question 2

Is arousal important?

Answer 2

Correct amount can push people to perform at their best levels.

Question 3

Explain the drive theory

Answer 3

Initial motivation causes increased drive, more effort, more success and a reputation of the same response. It increases in linear fashion. P= (D x H)

Question 4

What is the dominant response?

Answer 4

If the task is simple or the performer is an expert, then the response will be correct.

If the task is complex or the performer is a novice then performance may be impaired.

Question 5

Attentional narrowing

Answer 5

At high arousal we picks up less information and focus on the dominant response

Question 6

Inverted U theory

Answer 6

Theory that links arousal and performance stating that increased arousal improves performance to an optimal point at moderate levels of arousal

Question 7

Problems with inverted U theory

Answer 7

Critics question if optimal arousal always occur at the mid point of the curve
One curve doesn’t explain the different optimal levels of arousal needed for simple and complex tasks.

Question 8

Catastrophe theory

Answer 8

Theory suggesting that increased arousal improves performance to an optimal level but there is a dramatic reduction in performance when arousal increases beyond the optimal.