Sports Psychology - Arousal Flashcards
(24 cards)
What is arousal?
A state of physical and mental alertness readiness varying from deep sleep to intense excitement.
What are some of the physiological effects of arousal?
Increased heart rate breathing rate and sweating.
What are the effects of arousal on performance?
The effects can be both positive or negative depending on the level and control of arousal.
What can happen if high arousal is not controlled?
It can lead to worry and anxiety negatively affecting performance.
How can increased arousal levels benefit performance?
They can create a state of readiness which enhances performance.
What determines how arousal affects performance and motivation?
It depends on how arousal is used.
What happens as arousal increases?
The state of readiness and expectation increases.
What can occur if arousal gets too high?
The athlete may lose concentration become overaroused and feel stressed out.
How is the relationship between arousal and performance explained in sports psychology?
Through three theories, the inverted ‘U’ theory, catastrophe, theory and drive theory.
What is the equation for drive theory?
P = f(H xD)
P = performance
F = function
H = habit
D = drive
What is drive theory?
- there is a line of relationship between arousal and performance.
- performance increases directly proportionately to arousal.
- A very high arousal level = high-performance level.
- Learned behaviour is more likely to occur as the intensity of the competition increases.
- If the dominant learned response is correct then performance will be enhanced.
- A beginners dominant response may be an incorrect action and if this was intensified performance would decrease.
What is drive reduction in drive theory?
An individual may be motivated to complete a task when that drive is perceived as being fulfilled then the drive is reduced.
What is reactive inhibition?
When a performer thinks they’ve done their best and reached their goals, they stop trying as hard as this inhibits effort = can lead to a decreased performance.
What is the inverted ‘U’ theory?
- as arousal increases sodas performance but only up to an optimum point -at moderate arousal level.
- Once past moderate arousal level performance decreases.
- In sport, we can become anxious if overaroused and performance suffers.
- this theory is simplistic and needs modification to apply it to different sport or scenarios.
How does the level of a arousal affect performance in different types of activities?
- In activities that involve controlled movements, e.g. archery, arousal needs to be low for optimum performance.
- In activities that require gross motor skills e.g. weightlifting or rugby forwards, arousal needs to be high for optimal performance.
How does skill level influence the optimal level of arousal for performance?
- Highly skilled individuals require higher arousal levels because their actions need little conscious thought.
- Low skilled individuals need lower arousal levels to focus on the details and perform optimally.
How does personality affect the optimal level of arousal for performance?
- extroverts can cope with higher arousal levels while introverts require lower levels for optimal performance.
- this is supported by the link between the reticulator activating system and personality.
Explain how according to the Inverted U theory optimal arousal is influenced by the type of skill being performed.
[4 marks]
- The inverted ‘U’ describes how increased arousal improves performance up to an optimum point where if arousal increases further performance will subsequently decrease.
- Different skills are associated with different optimal points of arousal and therefore the arousal needed some skills may be higher than others.
- Gross skills require higher levels of arousal due to the large muscle movements needed and therefore optimal arousal will be higher.
- Find skills often require low levels of arousal due to the delicate muscle movement needed and therefore optimum arousals will be lower.
What is catastrophe theory?
- As arousal increases there is a sudden and dramatic drop in performance -more so than the Inverted U Theory.
- Many top sports people go to pieces in the big events.
- it takes into account that are anxiety can be one of two types, somatic and cognitive and they interact with each other.
- Cognitive is most crucial in determining their reaction to high levels of stress.
- Increase the levels of cognitive anxiety will help performance if somatic anxiety is low.
- So if the body is relaxed but the performance is feeling anxious this anxiety can help to improve performance.
What will occur if there is an increase in cognitive anxiety and somatic anxiety according to the catastrophe theory?
Performance will decline. Performance was suddenly deteriorate. If after this catastrophic event arousal decreases then performance will once again improved but not back to its original optimum level.
What did bird and horn find about catastrophe theory?
Female softball players had sudden major decreases in performance levels and many mental errors when their cognitive anxiety levels were high.
How can peak flow experience be explained by arousal theories?
- All the theories related to arousal show that performance is related to the amount of inner drive and self motivation.
- There are mental strategies which can help performers achieve this experience, to motivate them to want to repeat it and drive them to achieve their very best.
What is the reticular activating system (RAS)?
- Located in the central core of the brain and maintains our level of arousal.
- It can enhance or inhibit incoming sensory stimuli.
- According to the theories linked to the biological basis of personality extrovert tend to inhibit the intensity of stimulate and introverts tend to increase the intensity.
What did Eysenck find about the reticular activating system in arousal levels?
- introverts dislike high arousal conditions because there RAS is already stimulated.
- Extroverts seek higher arousal level because their RAS lacks stimulation.
