C13- Arousal

Question 1

Define arousal

Answer 1

• intensity of our emotions, motivation and behaviour
• Psychological readiness

Question 2

What is somatic arousal

Answer 2

physiological

• heart rate
• breathing rate
• sweating

Question 3

What is cognitive arousal

Answer 3

Psychological

• worry/anxiety
• self doubt

Question 4

Explain the Drive theory

Answer 4

• describes the relationship between arousal and performance as linear
• higher the arousal level the better the performance is
• At higher levels of arousal experts who have a well learned dominant response will perform better

Question 5

strengths of the drive theory

Answer 5

• simple (easy to understand)
• if dominant response is correct it may be applicable

Question 6

Weaknesses of the drive theory

Answer 6

• beginners are better at a lower arousal level
• doesn’t take into account personality types

Question 7

Describe the inverted U theory

Answer 7

• states that there is an optimum point of arousal, any more arousal then performance will decrease
• at lower points of arousal the performer will not be physiologically or psychologically ready to perform

Question 8

What would a inverted U graph look like for a fine and gross skill

Answer 8

gross - requires high arousal (rugby tackle)
fine - requires low arousal (snooker)

Question 9

How would the Inverted U change for a cognitive and autonomous performer

Answer 9

• autonomous performer can withstand a higher optimal arousal
• cognitive needs a lower optimal point of arousal

Question 10

Positives of the Inverted U theory

Answer 10

• Simple to understand
• more realistic than drive theory
• can be adapted for different performers (personality, skill level, type of activity)

Question 11

Negatives of the inverted U theory

Answer 11

• too simplistic
• doesn’t explain sudden drop in performance
• doesn’t say what happens after people under perform when over arousal

Question 12

Describe the catastrophe theory

Answer 12

• shows a much more dramatic decline in performance when arousal is raised above the optimal level
• Somatic and cognitive arousal

Question 13

Describe somatic and cognitive arousal

Answer 13

If somatic arousal is high and cognitive arousal is low then performance will increase

however if cognitive arousal also increases then performance will drop dramatically

if after the catastrophe the performance can still increase again if cognitive arousal decreases

Question 14

Strengths of the catastrophe theory

Answer 14

• currently most accepted theory
• realistic explanation (choke, gone to pieces)
• shows a sudden decrease in performance
• shows how a performer can recover by lowering arousal resulting

Question 15

Weaknesses of catastrophe theory

Answer 15

• optimum arousal may not be at a mid-way point
• not all performers will have a dramatic decline in performance when over aroused

Question 16

Describe the Peak flow (IZOF) theory

Answer 16

• known as ‘in the zone’
• Zone of optimal arousal where optimal performance takes place

Question 17

why it differs for different performers

Answer 17

• some performers respond positively to more pressure, others play better with less pressure
• Circumstances outside of performance may effect the performers response