AROUSAL AND THEORIES Flashcards
What is the definition of arousal?
The state of general preparedness of the body for action, involving physiological and psychological factors.
Physiological (somatic) effects of increased arousal
Increased heart rate Increased breathing rate Sweating Headache Cold, clammy hands Constant need to urinate
psychological (cognitive) effects of increased arousal
Increased focus and concentration
Heightened awareness of important cues in the environment
Narrowing of attention, excluding irrelevant stimuli
Decreased reaction time
High cognitive arousal leads to
Anxiety Tension Negative self talk Difficulties sleeping Inability to concentrate
what are causes of increased arousal?
Evaluation apprehension Attentional Narrowing Frustration Effects of an audience - proximity of a crowd, interactive crowd. competitive state anxiety
When catastrophe strikes a performer will try to recover by reducing….
cognitive anxiety and arousal
At a point of optimum arousal a performer will experience…..
faster reactions control maximal attention and concentration good decision making confidence
What is drive theory?
This describes a linear relationship between arousal and performance. As arousal increases, so does performance.
What is the inverted u theory?
Develops the relationship between arousal and performance stating that with increased arousal there is increased performance up to an optimum arousal level. After this point performance will deteriorate.
What is catastrophe theory?
Arousal improves performance up until a certain point however instead of decreasing gradually there is a sudden, dramatic collapse.
This collapse is due to a combination of somatic and cognitive effects.
Once catastrophe has occurred the performer needs to relax to below the point of arousal at which the catastrophe occurred.
According to this theory it is beneficial to have a level of cognitive anxiety produced by high arousal levels as long as somatic anxiety levels remain low. When both become high, catastrophe occurs.
Normally somatic anxiety peaks just before the event and lowers just after it begins, however this is not always the case.
What is the zone of optimal functioning?
Proposes that optimum performance is not always the at the same mid point of the inverted U.
It states that every athlete has a zone of optimal functioning, which is the pre-state competitive state anxiety level, plus or minus 4 points (Woods).
This can be measured using the Sport Competition Anxiety Test. There are many factors that affect optimal arousal e.g personality, type of skill, level of expertise, self-confidence self-efficacy and social facilitation.
Successful athletes will be able to control their anxiety levels in order to stay within their zone of optimum functioning. It is suggested that to be ‘in the zone’, that athletes need a moderate level of somatic anxiety but that cognitive anxiety can adversely affect performance.
Theories of audience effect?
Drive Theory of social facilitation. (Zajonc)- having an audience increases the performer’s drive state./ arousal. This increase in arousal in turn improves the athlete’s performance.
Catastrophe Theory
Inverted U theory.
Dominant response and personality type
Increased drive can improve performance when a skill is the ‘dominant response’ (it has been mastered/learned well), or if the skill is relatively simple. This is because the performer doesn’t need to think so much about the skill, it is autonomous so the audience won’t distract them. Extroverts often perform better in the presence of an audience.
Increased drive might impair performance if the task is complex/ difficult or if the performer is a beginner as it can distract the performer. Introverts tend to perform worse in front of an audience has performers may become anxious over the fear of being judged.
What is peak performance?
A state in which performance is at its highest level, achieved effortlessly, without thought and in complete confidence.”
