Arousal

Question 1

Arousal

Answer 1

An energised state, a readiness to perform

Question 2

Dominant Response

Answer 2

At high arousal we pick up less information (attention narrowing) and focus on the dominant response

Question 3

Dominant response is more likely to be correct if…

Answer 3

• The task is simple

- The performer is elite

Question 4

Dominating response is more likely to be incorrect if…

Answer 4

• The task is complex

- The performer is a novice

Question 5

Under-arousal causes…

Answer 5

• Poor selective attention
• Lack of concentration/focus
• Social Loafing
• Ringleman effect
• Slow/poor reaction time and decision making
• Attentional wastage and narrowing
• No peak flow performance

Question 6

Over-arousal causes

Answer 6

• Poor selective attention
• Lack of concentration/focus
• Slow/poor reaction time and decision making
• Attentional wastage and narrowing
• No peak flow performance
• Violence
• Breaking the rules

Question 7

Attentional Wastage

Answer 7

Performers concentration is misdirected to irrelevant cues. Can damage performance especially in novices

Question 8

Attentional Narrowing

Answer 8

Occurs when a performer is aroused so they focus on certain cues and ignore others. Linked to dominant response

Question 9

Social Loafing

Answer 9

Individual loss of motivation in a team player due to lack performance identification when efforts aren’t recognised

Question 10

Ringleman effect

Answer 10

When a teams performance decreases with group size

Question 16

What affects the zone of optimal functioning?

Answer 16

• Personality
• Experience
• Nature of sport/task

Question 17

How does personality effect the zone of optimal functioning?

Answer 17

Introvert would require a low level of arousal because they all ready have high adrenaline

Extroverts on the other hand can tolerate extra adrenaline

Question 18

How does experience affect the zone of optimal functioning?

Answer 18

A novice performer would require more thought, concentration and focus on the task and therefore would perform best with low arousal as their dominant response would be incorrect

An expert on the other hand is used to pressure and can operate with limited information and therefore perform better with a high arousal as they can trust in their dominant response which is usually correct

Question 19

How does the nature of the sport/task affect the sone of optimal functioning?

Answer 19

A fine or complex skill would require much more concentration, attention and focus to detail and therefore would require low levels of arousal

A simple skill is easy to comprehend and requires little concentration and therefore is best performed at a high arousal

Question 20

Drive Theory

Answer 20

Performance = Habit Strength x Drive

States that the more an elite performer is aroused the better their performance due to the dominant response being chosen is habitual. The more a beginner performer is aroused the dominant response may be incorrect

Question 21

The Inverted U Theory

Answer 21

Increased arousal improves performance but only to a moderate level, after which more arousal causes performance to suffer

• Under and over arousal can be equally bad for performance
• The optimal level of arousal can vary due the effect of personality experience and nature of task. One curve doesn’t explain it

Question 22

Catastrophe Theory

Answer 22

An adaptation of the inverted U theory. States that increased arousal improves performance to an optimum point but an intense combination of somatic and cognitive anxieties causes a dramatic deterioration of performance after this point

• Player can only recover if innit anxiety is low and there is time

Question 27

Zone of Optimal Functioning

Answer 27

Area of controlled arousal and high performance