pe arousal Flashcards
what happens if you are aroused
- heart starts beating faster
- energised state, a readiness to perform
- arousal is present before, during and after sport in varying levels. Correct levels can push you to peak performance, too little or too much can cause huge problems
- can be increased by simply being watched or by challenging situations, such as a major game
what is the drive theory
initial motivation causes increased drive, more effort, more success, and a repetition of the same response
what is the dominant response
- at high arousal levels we pick up less information (attention narrowing) and focus on the dominant response
- if the task is simple or a performer is an expert, then this respon will be correct
- if the task is complex or the performer is a novice, then performance may be impacted
whats the calculation for the drive theory linking to performance:
P = H * D Performance = Habit strength * Drive
Zone of optimal functioning is:
area of controlled arousal and high performance
what is the inverted U theory
- increased arousal improves performance but only to a moderate level, after which more arousal causes performance to suffer
- under - and - over arousal can be equally bad for performance. the optimal level of arousal can vary within this as skill level, personality of the performer and the task undertaken have an effect.
Why is moderate arousal not always best with someone’s personality
at low-arousal:
Introverts perform best because they have high adrenaline levels.
at high-arousal:
extroverts can tolerate extra adrenaline.
Why is moderate arousal not always best with someone’s experience
at low-arousal:
a novice performs best at low arousal best because they need to concentrate on lots of information. They are uncomfortable under pressure, incorrect dominant response
at high-arousal:
experts are used to the pressure and can operate on limited information. Dominant response is mainly correct
Why is moderate arousal not always best with the nature of the task
at low-arousal:
fine and complex skills are performed best because they require control and decision making
at high-arousal:
gross and simple skills are performed best because they need less control and decision making
what are the problems with the inverted U theory
- critics question if optimal arousal always occurs at the mid - point of the curve
- one curve does not explain the differences optimal levels of arousal needed for simple and complex tasks.
what is the catastrophe theory
- theory suggesting that increased arousal improves performance to an optimal point but there is a dramatic reduction in performance when arousal increases beyond the optimal.
- an adaptation of the inverted U theory
- increased arousal improves performance to a point but an intense combination of somatic and cognitive anxieties cause a dramatic deterioration in performance.
- the player can only recover if initial anxiety is low and there is time available
- player may not recover
symptoms of somatic anxieties:
-muscle tension
-increased HR
-
symptoms of cognitive anxieties:
- loss of concentration
- fear about performance
impacts of under arrousal in sport:
- poor selective attention / cues missed
- lack of concentration
- social loafing
- ringelman effect
- slower / poor reaction time / response time / slower decision making
- attention wasted
- attention narrowing
- failed to reach zone of optimal functioning / peak flow experience
what is attention wastage:
performers concentration is misdirected to irrelevant cues. Can damage performance especially in novices.
