Stress + Anxiety Flashcards
Define arousal
A general physiological and psychological activation varying on a continuum from deep sleep to intense excitement
Describe the drive theory
Increase in arousal causes a proportional Increase in performance
Increased arousal increases likelihood of dominant response
Performance worse for poorer learnt or complex skills
What are two setbacks of drive theory
Novices/intermediates who resort to dominant response may be doing them incorrectly
Elite athletes still “choke” in highly charged situations
What are the effects of under arousal on performance
Underperforming
Lack drive and determination
May not be focused or excited enough to perform
What are the effects of over arousal on performance
Stress/anxiety
Psyched out by opposition
Inc. HR, sweating or nausea
Mistakes made and performance declines
Describe the inverted U hypothesis
Performance effectiveness increases as arousal increases
Until optimum point reached
Any further arousal leads to decrease in performance
Describe the optimal level of arousal in the inverted U theory
The place where arousal is at its peak and performers are “in the zone”
What can negative reactions to arousal cause
Anxiety
Define anxiety in general
A negative emotional state with feelings of nervousness, apprehension and worry. Associated with activation or arousal of the body
Define anxiety in sport
An unpleasant psychological state in reaction to perceived stress concerning the performance of a task under pressure
What are the two types of anxiety (felt both in general and sport)
Trait and state
What two types of anxiety do you feel when undergoing state anxiety
Cognitive and somatic
What responses occur during cognitive anxiety
Lack of self confidence
Disrupted attention
Worry, fear or doubt
Expectation of failure
Impaired ability to concentrate
Concerns about performance
What are responses felt to somatic anxiety
Nausea
Increased respiration rate
Blood pressure increase
Muscle tension
Sweating
What are causes of anxiety
Pressure
Uncertainty
Self esteem
Fear of harm
Frustration
Define stress
An imbalance between demand and response capability, under conditions where failure has important consequences
Outline what happens during the flight or fight response
Increased HR
Inhibits peristalsis
Goose bumps
Dilated pupils
Sweating
Glucose production
Adrenaline release
Outline the 4 stage stress process
Demand
Individuals perception of demand
Stress response
Behavioural consequence
What is the most traditional source of stress and anxiety
Parental pressure:
High pressure in high ego environment = increased perception of anxiety
High pressure in high mastery environment = decreased perception of anxiety
Outline the IZOF
Optimal arousal depends on skill level, characteristics and the task itself
Optimal not always at the midpoint
Give examples of what skill types suit low and high IZOF levels
Low: fine skills (archery, darts)
High: gross skills (rugby tackle, boxing)
What is a criticism of the IZOF model
Lacks explanation why levels of anxiety can be beneficial or detrimental to performance
Describe the multidimensional anxiety theory
Predicts relationships between components of anxiety and performance
Outline catastrophe theory under low cognitive anxiety
Arousal and performance increase until optimal level reached
Any further arousal leads to decrease performance levels
Outline catastrophe theory under high cognitive anxiety
Once optimal level surpassed, over arousal causes catastrophic drop in performance
How can athletes attempt to recover from a catastrophic decline in performance
Completely relax physically
Eliminate worries or cognitively restructure
Reactivate in a controlled manner to regain optimal functioning
Describe directional anxiety
Interprets symptoms of anxiety
