Stress, Arousal and Anxiety

Question 1

Cognitive-Motivational-Relational Theory - state 4 points

Answer 1

1. stress is a process
2. stress is individualised
3. what is stressful in one environment, may not be in another environment
4. stresses do not directly lead to a negative outcome

Question 2

the ‘Model of Stress’ - explain it

Answer 2

1. the stress process involves a dynamic relationship between the person and the environment
2. stressor –> cognitive appraisal –> stress response –> coping –> response/outcome
3. response/outcome effects the other 3

Question 3

state what it is meant by the key term - stressors

Answer 3

stressors are events, forces, or situations interpreted as stressful

Question 4

what can stressors be ?

Answer 4

stressors can positive (eustress) or negative (distress)

Question 5

state what it is meant by the key term - stress responses

Answer 5

the stress response is the physiological, cognitive, affective and behavioural reaction to the demands

Question 6

what can a stress response be ?

Answer 6

can be positive (eg - ideal arousal) or negative (eg -excessive anxiety)

Question 7

state what it is meant by the key term - arousal

Answer 7

arousal is a general state of activation from deep sleep to extreme excitement

Question 8

state 3 expansional facts about arousal

Answer 8

1. includes cognitive and somatic dimensions
2. can be negative (causing anxiety)
3. can be positive (facilitating performance)

Question 9

state what it is meant by the key term - anxiety

Answer 9

Anxiety is an emotion characterised by feelings of tension, worried thoughts and physical changes like increased blood pressure

Question 10

explain the difference between cognitive and somatic anxiety

Answer 10

1. cognitive - nervous component (eg - worrying)

2. somatic - physiological component (eg - raised HR)

Question 11

state what it is meant by the key term - trait anxiety

Answer 11

trait anxiety is the general predisposition to experience anxiety in a variety of situations

Question 12

state what it is meant by the key term - state anxiety

Answer 12

state anxiety is an individuals immediate, but temporary, levels in a situation

Question 13

state 4 facts about trait anxiety

Answer 13

1. a personality disorder
2. stable and universal/global
3. predisposes individuals to perceive non-threatening situations as threatening - respond with extremely high levels of state anxiety
4. high trait anxiety people usually have more state anxiety than low trait anxiety people

Question 14

state 3 facts about state anxiety

Answer 14

1. emotional state characterised by perceived feelings of apprehension and tension
2. unstable
3. two types (cognitive state anxiety and somatic state anxiety)

Question 15

anxiety, coping and outcomes (how you’re perceiving anxiety) - state 3 facts

Answer 15

1. viewing anxiety as facilitative leads to superior performance
2. state anxiety is perceived as facilitative or destructive depending on how much control the person perceives
3. developing coping strategies can help interpret anxiety as facilitative

Question 16

state what it is meant by the key term - cognitive appraisal

Answer 16

cognitive appraisal describes our interpretation of a situation

Question 17

state 2 points to help explain what cognitive appraisal actually is

Answer 17

1. is this situation significant to me? could it effect my well-being?
2. can I deal with the demands of the situation?

Question 18

explain what it is meant by the key term - primary appraisal

Answer 18

Primary appraisal is concerned with the evaluation of how (potentially) harmful a particular situation is

Question 19

explain what it is meant by the key term - secondary appraisal

Answer 19

Secondary appraisal is concerned with the evaluation of whether the individual possesses the resources to successfully face the demands of the situation

Question 20

state what it is meant by the key term - threat state

Answer 20

1. threat state is characterised by low self-efficiency and control, and a focus on avoidance goals
2. (situational demands > capacity to deal with demands)

Question 21

state what it is meant by the key term - challenge state

Answer 21

1. challenge state is characterised by high levels of self-efficacy, a high perception of control, and a focus on approach goals
2. (situational characteristics ≈ capacity to deal with demands)

Question 22

state what it is meant by the key term - approach goals

Answer 22

approach goals are defined as goals focused on obtaining a positive outcome

Question 23

state what it is meant by the key term - avoidance goals

Answer 23

avoidance goals are defined as goals focused on avoiding negative outcomes

Question 24

state what it is meant by the key term - cognitive strategies

Answer 24

cognitive strategies are behavioural efforts used to manage out interpretation, or response, to stressors

Question 25

what are coping strategies useful for?

Answer 25

can be used to help decrease, maintain, or increase arousal/anxiety

Question 26

state 3 examples of coping strategies

Answer 26

1. self-talk
2. visualisation
3. biofeedback
4. controlled breathing
5. progressive mental relaxation
6. attention control
7. mindfulness

Question 27

explain what it is meant by the key term - ‘dynamic nature of coping’ (3 points)

Answer 27

1. efforts to manage stress are complex and even challenging
2. depends on available resources
3. efforts shift based on a strategies effectiveness

Question 28

explain what it is meant by the key term - ‘matching hypothesis’ (2 points)

Answer 28

1. only use arousal regulation techniques if the individual’s levels of arousal are perceives as debilitative
2. chosen technique should align with the type of anxiety that is problematic (eg - somatic techniques for somatic arousal)

Question 29

summarise ‘Cusp Catastrophe Theory’ (2 points)

Answer 29

1. optimal performance achieved when: cognitive anxiety is high, somatic arousal is low
2. dramatic decrease in performance (catastrophe) when both cognitive anxiety and somatic arousal are high

Question 30

who came up with ‘Cusp Catastrophe Theory’, and when?

Answer 30

Hardy, 1990

Question 31

who came up with ‘Drive Theory’, and when?

Answer 31

Hull, 1943

Question 32

who came up with the ‘Inverted U Theory’, and when?

Answer 32

Yerkes and Dodson, 1908

Question 33

who came up with the ‘Individual Zones of Optimum Functioning (IZOF) Theory’, and when?

Answer 33

Hunin, 1980

Question 34

what is the basic parameter of IZOF?

Answer 34

different people have different ‘zones’ of optimal arousal when it comes down to optimising performance

Question 35

is anxiety/arousal always bad?

Answer 35

ideal level of cognitive and somatic arousal/anxiety is individualised

Question 36

when/why must we tailor coaching strategies to individuals ? (2 points)

Answer 36

1. sometimes arousal + state anxiety must be reduced, other times maintained, and sometimes increased
2. important not to take a ‘one size fits all’ approach to these theories

Question 37

what two things is consistent high levels of anxiety associated with ?

Answer 37

1. decreased performance

2. negative effect (anger, sadness, frustration)

Question 38

explain how ‘decreased performance’ occurs from consistent high levels of anxiety (3 points)

Answer 38

1. increased muscle tension and co-ordination difficulties
2. attending to irrelevant cues (distraction)
3. performance worry and situation irrelevant thoughts

Question 39

what two things are self regulation strategies associated with?

Answer 39

1. improved performance

2. positive effects (happiness, vitality, confidence)

Question 40

explain how ‘improved performance’ occurs with the use of regulation strategies

Answer 40

1. perceived goal satisfaction

2. objective measures

Question 41

In descending order, state the Arousal Theory, who came up with it, and it what year for all 4 theories you need to know

Answer 41

1. Inverted U Theory, Yerkes and Dodson, 1908
2. Drive Theory, Hull, 1943
3. IZOF, Hunin, 1980
4. Catastrophe Theory, Hardy, 1990