Chapter 6: Arousal and Anxiety

Question 1

Arousal and how it’s recognized

Answer 1

blend of physiological and psychological activation, not pleasant/unpleasant

• pupils dilate
• respiration rate
• GSR: electricity conduct off skin
• biochemical: release of glucose, epinephrine, norepinephrine
• EEG: heightened brain activity

Question 2

Anxiety and how it’s recognized

Answer 2

feeling of nervousness or worry

• fidgeting
• need to urinate
• fatigue
• irratibility

Question 3

What is precompetitive anxiety? Describe the cognitive and somatic components.

Answer 3

• anxiety in time leading up to competition
  Cognitive: can begin high, remains high as time to event approaches, fluctuate thruout event
  Somatic: low until 24 hours prev., increases rapidly as time to event approaches, dissipates rapidly as it begins

Question 4

Stress

Answer 4

stress: response by bio. and psych. systems to perceptions of external conditions and events (positive or negative)

Question 5

Stressor

Answer 5

external condition or events

Question 6

Stressors classfied by time (2 points)

Answer 6

1. acute (deadline, winning)

2. chronic (poverty, coaching style)

Question 7

Stressors classified generally (3 points)

Answer 7

1. physical: increased demand on body, systems (injury, lack of sleep)
2. mental: imbalanced ratio of effort to ability, time pressure
3. emotional: substantial life changes

Question 8

2 types of organizational/sport stressors

Answer 8

1. Situational - fear of physical harm, event importance, leadership issues
2. Personal: self-esteem, shame, social evaluation

Question 9

Functional vs Dysfunctional Perfectionism

Answer 9

Functional: self-oriented striving
Dysfunctional: striving to meet others’ expectations, self doubt, not accepting mistakes

Question 10

Social physique anxiety

Answer 10

worry about judgment of body

Question 11

7 theories of arousal/anxiety-performance link

Answer 11

1. Drive theory: more arousal, better performance on simple tasks
2. Inverted U hypothesis: “just enough” arousal needed (Yerkes-Dodson Law: for complex tasks)
3. Catastrophe model: altered inverted U
4. IZOF Model: level of arousal that leads to peak perfromance individualized
5. Reversal theory: diffs. for telic and paratelic athletes
6. Direction/intensity theory: performance affect based on amount of and interpretation of anxiety
7. Social facilitation theory: in front of others - good at task: higher arousal = better performance and vice versa

Question 12

Explain the catastrophe model.

Answer 12

• low pressure = gradual increases in arousal will improve performance to point then interfere with performance
• high pressure and moderate to high cognitive anxiety = greater physio. arousal even at moderate level can lead to catastrophe

Question 13

Examples of pleasant functional, pleasant dysfunctional, unpleasant functional and unpleasant dysfunctional. What leads to best performance?

Answer 13

Pleasant Functional: inspired, brave, determined
Pleasant Dysfunctional: cheerful
Unpleasant Functional: grit
Unpleasant Dysfunctional: doubt, fear

Best performance: high Pleasant Functional, low Unpleasant Dysfunctional

Question 14

Telic vs Paratelic (reversal theory)

Answer 14

Telic: serious, goal focus (i.e. golf)
- high arousal = unpleasant, low arousal = relaxation
Paratelic: fun loving, excitement (i.e. skiing)
- high arousal = excitement, low arousal = boredom

Question 15

Individual Affect Performance Zones (IAPZ)

Answer 15

calculated probabilities in performance (indiv., group)

Question 16

4 types of anxiety

Answer 16

1. Trait anxiety: ppl react anxiously regardless of situation
2. Cognitive anxiety: results from thoughts or concerns
3. State anxiety: caused by situation
4. Somatic anxiety: psyc. responses to stressful situations - i.e. racing heartbeat

Question 17

Transactional model

Answer 17

emphasizes importance of how ppl interpret event in how they cope with potential stressor

Question 18

2 stages of transactional model

Answer 18

1. Primary Appraisal: ppl assess situation and what it will mean for them
2. Secondary Appraisal: ppl assess resoucres available for coping with situation