Lecture 5: Emotional regulation and mindfulness Flashcards
What is arousal?
neural excitation on a continuum ranging from comatose state to a state of extreme excitement that might be manifested in a panic attack
a natural, continuous state yet
when arousal levels become too high, this may lead to unpleasant physical and psychological responses
Often referred to as stress, state anxiety or distress
Arousal is considered non-directive which means it is:
neither negative or positive
Why is energisation and arousal important for some athletes?
Physiological demands of the sport
Links to skill acquisition (gross vs. fine motor skills)
Links to increased motivation
Links to increased confidence
Factors affecting the arousal and performance relationship
Athlete
Cognitive Appraisal
Performance
Emotional/ physiological response
Sport Situation
Factors affecting the arousal and performance relationship
Athlete
* Skill, fitness and personal experience
Cognitive appraisal
* Of demands
* Of resources
* Of consequences
* Of bodily reactions
Performance
* Motor performance
* Decision making
* Perception
* Retention
Emotional/physiological response
* Heart rate
* Muscle tension
* Brain waves
* Skin conductance
Sport Situation
* Task difficulty
* Demands
Relationship between arousal and performance
The inverted-U hypothesis predicts that as
arousal increases, there is a progressive increase in performance until a certain state of arousal is reached (optimal)
Beyond the optimal state, performance will start to decrease if arousal continues to increase
music can benefit sporting preparation and performance in five ways
Synchronisation
Dissociation
Improved mood
Skill learning
Arousal control
Synchronisation
Synchronous music can significantly enhance work rate
Dissociation
Music can narrow attention and divert feelings of fatigue
Skill learning
Music can replicate bodily rhythms
Lyrics in music can reinforce
important aspects of sporting
technique
Music enhances the enjoyment of skill learning
Power of sound on arousal
used as a legal stimulant or
sedative prior to and during competition (in certain sports)
Physiological responses tend to react to the rhythmic
components of music (e.g. tempo, type of music can alter heart rate, respiration rate etc.)
increase in intensity increased choice reaction time
Increase tempo increased perceptions of arousal
Mindfulness
technique that can be used to focus attention and reduce anxiety
Self-regulation of attention using mindfulness is developed through:
Attending to one object prolonged periods of time
Shifting attention between objects (task shifting)
Inhibiting task-irrelevant thoughts and feelings
Mindfulness training
Mindfulness-Acceptance-Commitment (MAC)
Mindful Sport Performance Enhancement (MSPE)
Mindfulness Meditation Training for Sport (MMST)
mindfulness training can:
help facilitate performance
through reduced anxiety and enhanced flow yet requires a
considerable time commitment to practise
