Sports Psychology - Anxiety

Question 1

Define the terms:
- anxiety
- trait anxiety
- state anxiety
- competitive trait anxiety

Answer 1

Anxiety = the negative aspect of experiencing stress
Trait anxiety = general levels of anxiety for a person in any situation
State anxiety = anxiety felt in a specific situation
Competitive trait anxiety = a tendency to perceive competitive situations as threatening and to respond to these situations with feelings of apprehension or tension

Question 2

What is somatic anxiety?
Give examples of how you could experience it

Answer 2

Somatic anxiety = the feelings of anxiety associated with the body e.g. feeling sick, butterflies in the stomach, raised heart rate

Question 3

What is cognitive anxiety?
Give examples of how you could experience it

Answer 3

Cognitive anxiety = the thoughts of anxiety associated with the brain e.g. worry, negative thoughts, over thinking

Question 4

How can somatic and cognitive anxiety affect performance?

Answer 4

High somatic + low cognitive = excitement / happiness / peak performance
High somatic + high cognitive = anxiety / anger

Question 5

What is the zone of optimal functioning theory?

Answer 5

An emotional response that facilitates elite performers to perform at their best.

Question 6

Describe the zone of optimal functioning theory

Answer 6

Every athlete will have their own individual optimal zone of anxiety. When the performer is in this zone they will be at peak performance.

Question 7

Describe the characteristics of ‘peak flow’ experience

Answer 7

• Somatic anxiety is at an appropriate threshold
• Cognitive anxiety is low
• Performer has a balanced perception of the demands of the situation and their ability to cope
• They have optimal focus/attention/concentration
• Very confident