❌Arousal

Question 1

What is arousal?

Answer 1

A level of activation, a degree of readiness to perform.

Question 2

When is arousal present?

Answer 2

Always when playing sport

Question 3

How does arousal vary?

Answer 3

On a continuum, from being very low to and almost sleep-like to very high excitement.

Question 4

Why is arousal important?

Answer 4

To give competitors some degree of drive and enthusiasm.

Question 5

What can increase arousal levels?

Answer 5

Increase in the level of competition such as the approach of a major game or championship event.
By the effect of an audience, especially if the performer is being watched by an expert.
By frustrating circumstances such as not playing well or losing.

Question 6

What are the theories of arousal?

Answer 6

Drive theory
Inverted U theory
Catastrophe theory
The zone of optimal functioning

Question 7

What is the drive theory?

Answer 7

As arousal increases, so does performance - proportionally

Question 8

What’s the equation for drive theory?

Answer 8

P = f(DxH)

Question 9

What do the letters stand for in the equation?

Answer 9

P = performance 
f = function 
D = drive 
H = habit

Question 10

Why does performance increase with more drive?

Answer 10

It is likely more effort will be put into the performance.

Question 11

What is the dominant response?

Answer 11

The stand-out response that the performer thinks is correct.

Question 12

What happens with the dominant response in experts?

Answer 12

Usually correct and performance levels remain high.

Question 13

What happens with the dominant response in beginners?

Answer 13

It may not be developed so the beginner may choose the wrong option and the probability of poor performance increases.

Question 14

What happens are high arousal levels? (Drive theory)

Answer 14

Less information is processed and the performer tends to concentrate on the dominant response, the response thought to be correct.

Question 15

What happens if the task is complex? (Drive theory)

Answer 15

Performance may be impaired because there is a lot of information to process and think about, yet at high arousal the ability to process this information reduces and some important cues could be ignored.

Question 16

What happens if the task is simple? (Drive theory)

Answer 16

It doesn’t require much thinking and can be performed well at high levels of arousal. For example, the simple task of a forward roll.

Question 17

What is the inverted U theory?

Answer 17

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

Question 18

What happens if the levels of arousal are too low or high? (Inverted U)

Answer 18

Performance deteriorates and is lower

Question 19

What can the optimal arousal level depend on? (Inverted U)

Answer 19

Skill level
Personality
Performer
Task

Question 20

How can being an expert vary the optimal arousal level? (Inverted U)

Answer 20

They are used to dealing with pressure and can deal with tasks effectively, even if they operate with limited information.
The dominant response of an expert is likely to be correct so they can produce a high level of performance at high arousal.

Question 21

How can being a beginner vary the optimal arousal level? (Inverted U)

Answer 21

They might need to operate at a low level of arousal since they would be uncomfortable under pressure.

Question 22

How can being an extrovert vary the optimal arousal level? (Inverted U)

Answer 22

They may perform happily at high arousal.
This may be because the reticular activating system (RAS), which controls and measures the levels of adrenaline in the body, suggests that extroverts have naturally low levels of activation and can tolerate any increase in arousal

Question 23

How can being an introvert vary the optimal arousal level? (Inverted U)

Answer 23

They prefer to perform at low arousal.

They are said to have naturally high levels of adrenaline and therefore would perform best at low arousal.

Question 24

How can a gross/fine skill vary the optimal arousal level? (Inverted U)

Answer 24

It can be performed using large muscle group movements at high arousal without the need for precise control needed for finer skills

Question 25

How can a complex/simple skill vary the optimal arousal level? (Inverted U)

Answer 25

At high arousal, the ability to process a lot of information is reduced so the performer may require a lower level of arousal to execute a complex skill.
A simple skill requires less decision making and can still be executed well a high arousal levels.

Question 26

What is the catastrophe theory?

Answer 26

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

Question 27

What causes the drop in performance? (catastrophe)

Answer 27

High levels of both somatic and cognitive anxieties.

Question 28

What happens after the extreme decline in performance? (Catastrophe)

Answer 28

The player tries to regain control by reducing anxiety and arousal and performance may gradually return to optimal, but only if the initial cause of the anxiety is mild and the performer has the time to recover.

More often than not, the performer fails to control their arousal and then starts to panic a little, causing further increases in arousal, which causes a further decline in performance.

Question 29

What is the zone of optimal functioning?

Answer 29

Area of controlled arousal and high level performance.

Adapted version of the inverted U.

Question 30

What does the zone of optimal function suggest?

Answer 30

That increase in arousal can improve performance and that the optimal level of arousal does vary for individual players, from high to low levels. But rather than a point of optimal arousal, the best level of arousal for maximum confidence and control in sport is an area ‘or zone’.

Question 31

How is the zone of optimal functioning model laid out?

Answer 31

Some players find their zone at low arousal, some at moderate arousal and some at high arousal, but that this zone is a bandwidth rather than a point.

Question 32

How can performers find their zone? (Optimal functioning)

Answer 32

To achieve the zone can be the ultimate experience in sport and individual performers can find their own zone using techniques such as: 
Mental practice 
Relaxation 
Visualisation 
Positive self-talk

Question 33

Why does performance improve once in the zone? (Optimal functioning)

Answer 33

Experience includes:
Things seem to flow effortlessly
The performer reaches a state of supreme confidence and remains calm under the utmost pressure.
The athlete feels that they are in total control of their actions and totally focused on the activity.

Question 34

What’s the result of being in the zone? (Optimal functioning)

Answer 34

A smooth, effortless performance at the highest level.

It can lead to the peak flow experience

Question 35

What is peak flow?

Answer 35

The ultimate intrinsic experience felt by athletes from a positive mental attitude, with supreme confidence, focus and efficiency.

Question 36

When does peak flow happen?

Answer 36

When timing, action and movement appear to be perfect.

Question 37

What happens during peak flow?

Answer 37

The performer has total focus on aspects of the task, a high level of confidence in their preparation and fitness levels and a belief that optimum environmental conditions are here at the time of the event.

Question 38

What factors affect the peak flow experience?

Answer 38

Environmental influences such as the pressure from the crowd or the frustration caused by a referee decision.
The effect of injury or fatigue during the game will also stop the player keeping up with the flow experience.
Poor mental preparation and the failure to reach optimal arousal levels.