Arousal and anxiety Flashcards
What is arousal?
Energised state or the readiness for action that motivates us to behave in a particular way
What’s the difference between somatic and cognitive anxiety?
Somatic = changing physiological state of the body (e.g increased HR)
Cognitive = changing psychological state of the body (e.g increased anxiety)
What are the three theories of arousal?
- drive theory
- inverted U theory
- catastrophe theory
What is the drive theory?
Demonstrates a linear relationship between performance and arousal
At low arousal levels performance is low, at high arousal levels performance is high
behaviour = habit x drive
How else is performance affected in relation to the drive theory?
- quality depends on how well the skill has been learnt
- learnt motor programmes are the dominant responce
- dominant responce most likely to emerge when a performer experiences increased arousal
How does the type of learner and skill type affect the drive theory?
- high arousal is beneficial to autonomous/expert performers with well grooved schemas
- novice learner struggles with high arousal levels
- high arousal helps the performance of gross and simple skills
What is the inverted U theory?
States arousal improves performance up until an optimal point where past this performance decreases
Both under and over arousal severely decrease the leaners ability to perform a skill
What happens during under arousal in the inverted U theory?
- difficult to focus attention and concentration on relevant environmental cues
- widened attention field
- concentration lost
- selective attention can’t opperate
What happens during optimal arousal in the inverted U theory?
- perfect arousal state
- ideal attention field width
- performer able to concentrate
- important environmental cues absorbed
What happens during over arousal in the inverted U theory?
- narrowed attention field
- relevant environmental cues are lost
- performer often in a state of panic
- hypervigilence
- selective attention can’t opperate
- concentration impended
What other factors affect performance in the inverted U theory?
Personality = extroverts require higher arousal
Skill type = fine, complex and open skills require lower arousal levels
Learning stage = higher arousal needed for autonomous leaners
Experience = experienced performers need higher levels
What is the catastrophe theory?
Somatic arousal increase quality performance
If cognitive arousal increases too much over optimum alongside high somatic arousal, performance drops suddenly
What is anxiety?
Negative aspect of experiencing stress , worry, apprehension, fear or failure
What is state anxiety?
Athlete’s emotional state at any given time, variable from situation to situation
What is trait anxiety?
Trait enduring in an individual, performer with high trait anxiety has an apprehensive predisposition
