Sport Psychology: Anxiety

Question 1

What is anxiety?

Answer 1

A negative aspect of stress characterised by irrational thinking, loss of concentration and fear of failure

Question 2

What are the two types of anxiety?

Answer 2

Competitive trait and competitive state

Question 3

What is competitive trait?

Answer 3

A disposition to suffer nerves in most sporting situations

Question 4

What are the characteristics of competitive trait?

Answer 4

. Consistent
. Stable
. Anxious behaviour all the time

Question 5

What is an example of competitive trait?

Answer 5

A player worrying before all games

Question 6

What is competitive state?

Answer 6

Anxiety experienced at a specific time during a competitive situation

Question 7

What are the characteristics of competitive state?

Answer 7

. Situation dependant
. Temporary rush of anxiety
. Caused by threatening circumstances
. May be cognitive and/or somatic

Question 8

What is an example of competitive state?

Answer 8

A player taking a penalty

Question 9

What does a high trait anxiety mean for a performer?

Answer 9

They’re more likely to have a higher state anxiety

Question 10

What are the two symptoms of anxiety?

Answer 10

Somatic anxiety and cognitive anxiety

Question 11

What is somatic anxiety?

Answer 11

It is the physiological responses

Question 12

What are characteristics of somatic anxiety?

Answer 12

. Muscular tension
. Shaking
. Pacing
. Poor co-ordination
. Sweating
. Increased HR

Question 13

What is cognitive anxiety?

Answer 13

It is the psychological responses

Question 14

What are the characteristics of cognitive anxiety?

Answer 14

. Irrational thinking - nerves
. Worrying
. Confusion
. Loss of concentration

Question 15

What are the causes of anxiety?

Answer 15

. Being watched
. Running out of time
. Increased competition
. Letting the team down
. Playing badly
. Injury

Question 16

What are the different ways you can measure anxiety?

Answer 16

. Questionnaires
. Observation
, physiological responses

Question 17

How is a questionnaire used?

Answer 17

SCAT (Sports Competition Anxiety Test) is a questionnaire used by sports psychologists

Question 18

What are the pros of using a questionnaire to measure anxiety?

Answer 18

. It is quick,easy and cheap
. Results allows easy comparison

Question 19

What are the cons of using a questionnaire to measure anxiety?

Answer 19

. Inaccurate/untruthful answers - people may give socially acceptable answers
. Misinterpretation of questions, lack of understanding
. Answers may depend on mood
. Questions may be inappropriate - results to biased answers
. Responses can be influenced by time taken to complete questions

Question 20

How is observation used to measure anxiety?

Answer 20

It measures anxiety by watching the individual

Question 21

What are the pros of using observation to measure anxiety?

Answer 21

. True to life

Question 22

What are the cons of using observation to measure anxiety?

Answer 22

. Based on observers opinion - subjective
. Must know performer
. Time consuming
. May need more than 1 observer
. Behaviour may change if they know they are being watched

Question 23

How is physiological responses used to measure anxiety?

Answer 23

It measures the physical response from the body.

Question 24

What are the pros of using physiological responses to measure anxiety?

Answer 24

. Factual and allows comparisons to be made
. Responses can be measured in real game situations

Question 25

What are the cons of using physiological responses to measure anxiety?

Answer 25

. Training can be required to use equipment and cost may inhibit use
. Wearing the device may restrict performance
. The performer mag be affected by wearing the device giving more stress and a false reading

Question 26

Explain how different types of anxiety can affect sports performance?

Answer 26

Competitive trait: nerves in most sporting situations - player worrying before all games
Competitive state: anxiety at a specific time during a competitive situation- before taking a penalty
Cognitive anxiety is psychological - irrational thinking
Somatic anxiety is physiological- muscular tensionn