Sports psychology - Arousal Flashcards
Describe what arousal is
Your level of alertness/excitement/readiness to perform
Identify the three theories of arousal
Drive theory
Inverted U theory
Catastrophe theory
Describe the drive theory of arousal
As arousal increases, so does performance, in a linear relationship
Describe the adapted Drive theory of arousal and what this means to the performance of beginners and elite performers
Rather than just performance increasing with arousal, as arousal increases, your dominant response becomes more likely.
For beginners this means that performance will get worse with increased arousal, as their dominant response is to make a mistake because they have not learnt the skills well enough as they are not autonomous.
For elite athletes, it means that performance will get better as arousal increases because their dominant response is to perform a skill well.
Outline the advantages of the drive theory of arousal
It’s simple and easy to understand
Some evidence backs it up - as many athletes to perform better with higher levels of arousal.
Outline the disadvantages of the drive theory of arousal
It’s too simplistic and doesn’t take individual differences into account.
Evidence against it shows that not everyone performs better with higher levels of arousal
Describe the inverted U theory of arousal
As arousal increases, so does performance in a curve linear manner, until an optimal point of arousal is reached. If arousal increases past this point, then performance will decrease.
Explain how the inverted U theory was adapted to include variations of how task difficulty, personality and skill level can impact how arousal affects performance.
Task difficulty can affect optimal level of arousal. Complex tasks have a lower level of optimal arousal. Simple tasks have a higher level of arousal for optimal performance.
Beginners will have a low optimal level of arousal, intermediate performers will have a moderate optimal level of arousal and elite will have a high optimal level of arousal.
Introverts will have a lower optimal level of arousal and extroverts will have a higher optimal level of arousal.
Outline the advantages of the inverted U theory of arousal
It takes into account that there is an optimal level of arousal, and that arousal levels above or below this will lead to lower levels of performance.
It takes into account how task difficulty, skill level and personality can affect a persons optimal level of arousal.
Outline the disadvantages of the inverted U theory of arousal
It doesn’t consider the fact that people can reduce their arousal if it has gone over optimal levels to improve performance again. Once arousal is over optimal, performance will only deteriorate.
Describe the catastrophe theory of arousal
As arousal increases, so does performance in a curvilinear fashion, until an optimal point of arousal is met , any arousal increases above this level will result in a dramatic decline in performance. However, if performers can utilise stress management techniques, they can lower arousal back towards optimal levels, and therefore increase performance again.
Describe the advantages of the catastrophe theory
It enables athletes to improve performance once they have gone over the optimal levels of arousal
Describe the disadvantages of the catastrophe theory
It doesn’t take into account individual difference.
Performers need to be good at using stress management techniques in order to lower arousal.
