cq2; anxiety and arousal Flashcards
What is anxiety?
An emotional response associated with fear and can bring about mental and physical unease.
- It is a natural reaction to stress
Why is anxiety bad for performance?
Leads to unsuccessful performance as it may reduce concentration
What are the types of anxiety?
- Trait anxiety
- State anxiety
What is trait anxiety?
The genetic level of stress one may have regardless of the situation
- Everyone has a different level and instigation of trait anxiety
What is state anxiety?
An emotional response to particular situations.
What are some emotions that can be induced from state anxiety?
- Fear
- Worry
- Nervousness
- Apprehension
What is stress?
A non-specific response that the body has to the demands placed upon it.
Is stress good or bad for performance?
It can be good or bad, depending on the athlete
What are the sources of stress (stressors)?
- Personal pressure
- Competitive pressure
- Social pressure
- Physical pressure
What is personal pressure?
Individual pressure imposed by the desire to win or fulfil goals.
What is competitive pressure?
Pressure exerted by opponents on the field of play.
What is social pressure?
Pressure from coaches, family, peers..
What is physical pressure?
The pressure of having to perform learned skills under the demands of competition.
What is arousal?
The degree of energy release and the intensity of readiness of the performer.
What is optimum arousal?
The ideal level of arousal that will result in optimal performance.
What is the difference between anxiety and arousal in terms of their effects on performance?
Anxiety can restrict an athlete from performing at all on the day and therefore needs to be managed if levels are too high
Arousal is the state at which you perform best whilst anxiety is a set of emotions that can either improve or worsen performance
What are the psychological reactions to stress/effects of anxiety on performance?
- ↑ blood supply to skeletal muscles
- ↑ oxygen to lungs
- ↑ glucose production to provide extra fuel
- ↑ sweat production to cool the body
- Tightened muscles to prepare the body for action
How can arousal levels be measured?
- Heart rate
- Respiration
- Muscle tension
- Skin temperature
- Brainwave activity
What are the negative features of an under-aroused athlete?
May be relaxed or distracted.
What are the negative features of an over-aroused athlete?
- Inability to concentrate
- Too tense
- Too many muscle groups activated due to nerves
