Sport Psychology - Stress, Arousal and Anxiety

Question 1

Define arousal

Answer 1

Arousal is a state of activation and readiness to perform

Question 2

Define cognitive arousal

Answer 2

A state of psychological activation and readiness to perform

Question 3

Define somatic arousal

Answer 3

A state of physiological activation and readiness to perform

Question 4

Drive theory: There is a _____________ ___________________ between arousal and performance

Answer 4

Positive correlation

Question 5

Drive theory: As arousal increases, effort levels increase and the performer shows their ___________ ______________

Answer 5

Dominant response

Question 6

Drive theory: An autonomous performer has a _________ _____________ dominant response

Answer 6

Well-learnt

Question 7

Drive theory: For a cognitive performer, what happens as arousal increases?

Answer 7

Performance decrease because their dominant response is not well learnt

Question 8

Drive theory: For an autonomous performer, what happens as arousal increases?

Answer 8

Performance increase because their dominant response is well learnt

Question 9

Describe the inverted U theory of arousal

Answer 9

As arousal increase, effort increase and performance increases until the performer reaches optimum levels

Question 10

What dose optimum levels of arousal give?

Answer 10

Optimum levels of performance

Question 11

What are a cognitive performer’s optimum level of arousal like? Why?

Answer 11

Low
Their dominant response is not well learnt, so they are required to concentrate on the task

Question 12

What is an autonomous performer’s optimum level of arousal?

Answer 12

High

Question 13

What is the optimum level of arousal for a golf putt? Why?

Answer 13

Low
It is a fine motor skill

Question 14

Define the term cognitive anxiety

Answer 14

Psychological anxiety

Question 15

Define somatic anxiety

Answer 15

Physiological anxiety

Question 16

Define competitive trait anxiety

Answer 16

The performer perceives all competitive situation as threatening

Question 17

Define competitive state anxiety

Answer 17

The performer perceives certain competitive situations as threatening

Question 18

What is the relationship between arousal and anxiety?

Answer 18

As arousal increases, anxiety also increases

Question 19

When does cognitive state anxiety increase in relation to performance?

Answer 19

Up to a week before

Question 20

When does cognitive anxiety peak in relation to performance

Answer 20

At the start of the event

Question 21

What happens to cognitive state anxiety during performance? Why?

Answer 21

It fluctuates depending on performance

Question 22

When does somatic state anxiety increase in relation to performance?

Answer 22

An hour before

Question 23

When does somatic state anxiety peak in relation to performance

Answer 23

At the start of performance

Question 24

What happens to somatic state anxiety during performance?

Answer 24

It changes dependant on cognitive anxiety

Question 25

Give an example of a physiological measure of stress

Answer 25

Heart rate monitors

Question 26

Name 3 cognitive stress management techniques

Answer 26

Mental rehearsal/visualisation Thought stopping Positive self-talk

Question 27

How many types of mental rehearsal are there? What are they?

Answer 27

2 Internal and external

Question 28

When should thought stopping be used?

Answer 28

When negative thoughts occur

Question 29

What is thought stopping

Answer 29

The use of a key cue or word

Question 30

What does thought stopping do to attention?

Answer 30

Re-directs it from the cause of anxiety to the external stimulus

Question 31

When should positive-self talk be used?

Answer 31

When negative thoughts occur

Question 32

What is positive self-talk?

Answer 32

Where the performer replaces negative thoughts with positive statements about performance

Question 33

Name 3 somatic stress management techniques

Answer 33

Biofeedback Centring/deep breathing Progressive muscular relaxation

Question 34

What is biofeedback?

Answer 34

The use of a physiological measuring device

Question 35

What does biofeedback allow a performer to do?

Answer 35

Recognise and control the causes of anxiety

Question 36

What does centring involve?

Answer 36

Deep breathing and a mantra

Question 37

What is centring usually used alongside?

Answer 37

Progressive muscular relaxation

Question 38

What is progressive muscular relaxation?

Answer 38

The performer breathes in, contracts their muscles, holds the contraction and then relaxes the muscles and breathes out

Question 39

What is progressive muscular relaxation used alongside?

Answer 39

Centring/deep breathing

Question 40

Define eustress

Answer 40

This is positive and gives a feeling of fulfilment and arousal. It can increase focus, attention and skill level

Question 41

Define distress

Answer 41

This is a negative form of stress and in extreme cases causes anxiety and apprehension. It tends to be detrimental to sporting performance