CHAPTER 9 – Emotions and Athletic Performance

Question 1

In a sentence each, summarize three important characteristics of our emotions, and name the type of conditioning involved in each.

Answer 1

• The reaction that one feels inside during the experiencing of an emotion (such as the “butterflies” that an athlete feels just before the start of a competition), which is influenced by respondent conditioning
• The way that one learns to outwardly express an emotion (such as talking fast in an animated fashion when nervous), which is influenced by operant conditioning
• How one becomes aware of and describes one’s emotions (e.g., “I’m a little nervous,” as opposed to “I’m really mad.”), which is also influenced by operant conditioning

Question 2

Describe unconditioned reflexes (i.e., the USs and URS) that appear to characterize the emotions of fear, anger, and joy.

Answer 2

o Fear: USs of a sudden loss of support, loud sounds, and a sudden push elicited the URs of a sudden catching of breath, a clutching or grasping response, and crying
o Anger: US of hampering an infant’s movements elicited the URs of crying, screaming, and body stiffening
o Joy: USs of tickling, gentle rocking, and patting elicited the URs of smiling, gurgling, and cooing

Question 3

In the experiment with little albert, what was the US? The UR? The CS? The CR?

Answer 3

US: hammer (loud bang)
UR: fear/crying
CS: the white rat
CR: fear/crying

Question 4

For each of the following emotions, identify a general cause, and illustrate each cause with an example from your own experience: Happiness, Anxiety, Anger, Relief

Answer 4

o Happiness: presentation of reinforcers causes the emotion called happiness.
o Anxiety: emotional experience when we encounter aversive stimuli.
o Anger: withholding or withdrawal of reinforcers causes the emotion called anger.
o Relief: emotional experience when we encounter aversive stimuli.

Question 5

Describe four effects of excessive nervousness and tension, and briefly explain why each effect might interfere with athletic performance at competitions.

Answer 5

1. We have evolved such that exposure to threat causes physiological changes within us to prepare us to deal with that threat. Narrowing of attention means a nervous or fearful athlete is less likely to attend to important external cues.
2. Consumes energy in the process of all those physiological changes. The extra energy consumption can be problematic in endurance activities such as a nervous cross-country skier “won’t have the legs” to accelerate during the home stretch.
3. Causes the adrenal gland to secrete adrenalin, which will cause the athlete to rush a skilled routine, so that timing is thrown off. A nervous tennis player is likely to have a shorter backswing, a choppier stroke, a rushed shot, and often devastating results.
4. Adds additional stimuli to the competitive environment that were not likely present in the practice environment, which interferes with stimulus generalization of a skill from practice to competition.

Question 6

Define or describe each of the following: Deep centre breathing, Progressive muscle relaxation

Answer 6

o Deep centre breathing: A martial arts procedure that emphasizes thought control, a particular way of breathing and muscle relaxation.
o Progressive muscle relaxation: alternatively tensing and relaxing various muscle groups while attending closely to the sensations that are felt when the muscles are tensed versus when in contrast to the state of tension.

Question 7

Define “choking” as the term is used in sports. Describe an example that was not in this chapter.

Answer 7

o Choking is a critical deterioration in the execution of habitual processes as a result of an elevation of anxiety levels under perveived pressure, leading to substandard performance. An example would be a basketball who is taking a foul shot when behind one point in the final seconds of the game and he misses the basket on his foul shot because of the added pressure.

Question 8

Describe several strategies that might be used to minimize the likelihood of the occurrence of “choking” in sports.

Answer 8

o The five guidelines for eliminating negative thoughts, deep centre breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, specific pre-performance routines that athletes can learn to follow just before an important competition can also decrease the likelihood of choking.

Question 9

List the four steps that have characterized successful anger management programs used with athletes.

Answer 9

1. Identify anger-causing situations
2. Teach substitute behaviors to compete with the anger
3. Practice the substitute behaviors using imagery and/or simulations and/or role playing
4. Use the coping skills in competitive situations, with monitoring and/or supportive contingencies