arousal regulation Flashcards
how to increase sefl-awarness of arousal?
think about best performace and fill out the Checklist of Performance States e.g how anxious
then think about worst performance and fill it out again
compare the responses to see levels of feelings at different performance states
what is the first step towards learning to regulate arousal?
becoming more aware of arousal levels during performance and noticing how feelings affect performance
what is the difference between elite and non-elite athletes in their view of anxiety?
elite athletes view anxiety as as facilitative and feel they can control it
non-elite athletes interpret anxiety as debilitative
what is the difference between athletes who view their anxiety as facilitative and debilitative?
facilitative - use coping strategies
debilitative - limited use of coping strategies
what are the 3 groups of anxiety reduction techniques?
somatic
cognitive
multimodal
what are the 3 critical time periods in the interpretation of anxiety?
what do those that view anxiety as facilitative do differently than those who view anxiety as debilitative?
after performance, 1 or 2 days before and the day of competition
during these times, facilitators use psychological skills to control the cognitive and somatic anxiety experience
will athletes use more physical or mental relaxation techniques when coping with competition anxiety and everyday anxieties?
physical to cope with competition anxiety
mental to cope with everyday anxieties
do professional athletes engage in more relaxation than non-professional athletes?
yes
what do somatic anxiety techniques aim to reduce?
physiological arousal associated with increased somatic anxiety
what are 3 examples of somatic anxiety reduction techniques?
biofeedback
progressive muscle relaxation
breath control
what assumptions is progressive muscle relaxation based on?
not possible to be relaxed and tense at the same time
possible to learn difference between tense and relaxed
relaxation of muscles through decreased muscle tension will decrease mental tension
what is progressive muscle relaxation?
full contraction tensing and relaxaing specific muscle groups until the whole body is relaxed
how did progressive muscle relaxation reduce anxiety?
distraction from anxiety state
correlation between how body feels and thoughts so feel better = think better
what is the overal goal of progressive muscle relaxation?
to develop ability to detect tene muscles and relax them on site during a competition
what is generally the first physical symptom of anxiety?
a change in breathing rate
becomes short, shallow and irregular
how does breathing increase and decrease muscle tension?
holding breath increases muscle tension
breathing out decreases msucle tension
what is the general ratio used for breath relaxation?
1:2 inhalation to exhalation
when is the best time to use breath control?
during a break or half time in a competition
how does breath control reduce anxiety?
controlling breathing reverses process of increased anxiety through irregular breathing
relaxes shoulders and neck muscles
less likely to be bothered by distractions
renews energy
what does biofeedback involve?
using an electric device to monitor and provide feedback on physiological responses such as muscle activity
can be used to alert an athlete to exact areas of tension during specific actions
how can rifle shooters improve their performance using biofeedback?
they can fire between heartbeats
how does biofeedback work?
increasing awareness of physiological responses such as muscle tension gives the athlete a greater possibility of control
what are 3 types of cognitive anxiety reduction techniques?
relaxation response
autogenic training
systematic desensitisation
what is the theory behind the effectiveness of cognitive anxiety reduction techniques?
relaxing the mind will in turn relax the body and enable greater concentration
what is the relaxation response?
applies the basic methods of meditation to mentally prepare for a competition by quieting the mind which improves focus
what 4 elements does the relaxation response require?
- a quiet place
- comfortable position NOT lying in bed
- repeat a word over and over
- passive attitude
is the relaxation response a good technique to use right before an event?
no, could become too relaxed and lethargic
has meditation been proved effective?
yes, shown to improve performance and reduce self-reported tension
what is autogenic training?
series of exercises that produce sensations (particularly of warmth and heaviness)