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P.E - Sports Psychology > Stress, Arousal & Anxiety > Flashcards

Stress, Arousal & Anxiety Flashcards

1
Q

Define arousal

A

Mental and physical state of alertness or readiness to perform.

Ranging on a continuum from deep sleep to intense excitement.

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2
Q

List 4 factors in sport that can affect arousal levels

A

Level of competition

Crowds

Not playing well

Bad referee

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3
Q

When does an increase in arousal help performer?

A

increases energy

Helps an autonomous performer(expert)

Helps simple/gross skills

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4
Q

When does an increase in arousal hinder performance?

A

Complex / fine skills

Cognitive performer

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5
Q

List the 4 theories of arousal

A

Hull’s drive theory

Inverted u theory

Catastrophe theory

ZOF theory

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6
Q

Explain Hulls drive theory

A

Linear relationship between increasing arousal and level of performance.

⬆️ arousal = ⬆️ likelihood of the DOMINANT RESPONSE occurring:

Cog. perf. = incorrect = mistakes

Aut. perf. = correct = fewer mistakes

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7
Q

List 3 criticisms to Hulls drive theory

A

Doesn’t take into account the mistakes top class performers may make

Doesn’t take into account personality

Fails to recognise the different optimum levels of arousal needed for different skills

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8
Q

Explain the inverted u theory

A

Performance improves with arousal up to the optimal point. Past this an ⬆️ in arousal =⬇️ in performance

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9
Q

What are the symptoms of under arousal

A

Physiological - little adrenaline + low HR

Cognitive - Lack of focus

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10
Q

What are the symptoms of moderate arousal

A

Good selective attention and concentration

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11
Q

What are the symptoms of over arousal

A

Physiological - Tension, shaking, ⬆️ in HR

Cognitive - Lack of focus

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12
Q

Good points to the inverted u-theory

A

Flexible for different skills and personalities

Recognises under and over arousal problems

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13
Q

Negatives to the inverted u theory

A

When arousal is too high there’s not always a gradual drop in performance, some times theres a steep drop

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14
Q

What can the optimal level of arousal differ according to

A

Type of activity

Skill level of performer

Personality of performer

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15
Q

What controls and measures the levels of adrenaline in the body guiding as to whether a person is an extrovert or introvert?

A

the reticular activating system

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16
Q

Explain the catastrophe theory

A

Suggests that increased arousal causes a peak in performance at the OLA.

Notices that performance doesn’t always decline gradually after the OLA has been reached. Instead a dramatic decline can occur = CATASTROPHE

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17
Q

When might the performance gradually decline in the catastrophe theory?

A

If the performer has low levels of cognitive state anxiety and somatic anxiety.

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18
Q

Give examples of somatic anxiety

A

Sweating, butterflies and an increase in HR

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19
Q

When might the performance drop in the catastrophe theory?

A

If the performer has high levels of arousal, cognitive and somatic anxiety.

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20
Q

Explain Zone of Optimal functioning arousal theory

A

ZOF = An energised and controlled frame of mind that is focused on the task.

Associated w/ top level athletes who have perfect anxiety control measures.

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21
Q

What can the ZOF alter depending on

A

Type of skill

Level of performance

Personality

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22
Q

What can being in the ZOF lead to

A

Peak flow experience

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23
Q

Define peak flow experience

A

Clear goals

Totally focused

Effortless movement

Ability to complete challenge successfully

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24
Q

List 5 factors that affect peak flow experience

A

injury

Fatigue

negative self talk

Lack of challenge

Crowd hostility

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25
Q

Define anxiety

A

negatively emotional state caused by a threatening situation

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26
Q

List the 6 types of anxiety

A

somatic

cognitive

trait

state

competitive state

competitive trait

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27
Q

Define somatic anxiety

A

Physiological responses

Prior to comp = Low but rise quickly immediately b4 performance.

During comp = tends to ⬇️

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28
Q

Define cognitive anxiety

A

Psychological responses and worries of their ability to complete the task.

Prior to comp = High + will remain high immediately before the start of a major comp.

During comp = Fluctuates depending on success/failure in performance

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29
Q

Define trait anxiety

A

Trait within an individual that determines their potential to react with apprehension.

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30
Q

What does it mean if someone easily becomes anxious?

A

They have high trait anxiety (A-trait)

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31
Q

Define state anxiety

A

Anxiety felt in a particular situation made up of somatic and cognitive anxiety

Linked to performers mood

A-state anxiety

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32
Q

Define competitive state anxiety

A

Anxiety levels when in a specific competitive sporting situation

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33
Q

Define competitive trait anxiety

A

Tendency to see competitive situations as threatening and to respond with feelings of anxiety in comprehensive situations.

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34
Q

How long is competitive state anxiety

A

temporary

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35
Q

What are the 2 forms of stress

A

Eustress

Distress

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36
Q

Define eustress

A

Positive type of stress that can:

⬆️ focus, attention and skill level

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37
Q

Define distress

A

Negative type of stress and in extreme cases causes anxiety and apprehension.

Tends to be detrimental to sporting performance

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38
Q

Define stressors

A

Factors that cause stress therefore start the stress process

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39
Q

What does stressors effect depend on

A

How the individual perceives them in relation to their own ability and personality

If stressor is bigger than ability = Anxiety

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40
Q

List 4 sport specific stressors

A

Competition

Frustration

Personal - High A-trait

Physiological - putting body under strain

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41
Q

What is the stress process

A
  1. Demands of situation
  2. Athlete’s perception of demands
  3. ⬆️ arousal
  4. Outcome
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42
Q

What can the athletes perception of the demands (step 2 of stress process) be?

A

Positive (challenging) – ⬆️ motivation and energy — ⬆️ levels of performance

Negative (Threatening) – ⬆️anxiety — ⬇️ level of performance

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43
Q

What term is used for responding to stress

A

General adaptation syndrome :

  1. Alarm reaction stage
  2. Resistance stage
  3. Exhaustion/collapse state
44
Q

Explain the alarm reaction stage

A

‘Fight or flight’

Sympathetic nervous system is activate = ⬆️ HR, blood sugar, BP and adrenaline

45
Q

Explain the resistance stage

A

If stress continues, body will revert to normal levels due to homeostasis.

46
Q

Explain the exhaustion/collapse stage

A

Adrenal cortex fails after continued stress = ulcers, high BP and extreme cases - death

47
Q

What 3 ways can you control cognitive anxiety?

A

Imagery/mental rehearsal

Positive self talk

Goal setting

48
Q

What are the 2 types of imagery?

A

External and internal

49
Q

What 3 ways can you control cognitive anxiety?

A

Imagery/mental rehearsal

Positive self talk

Goal setting

50
Q

How can imagery be improved

A

Practise

⬆️ detail

Positivity

51
Q

How can goal setting reduce cognitive anxiety

A

By directing attention to ensure learning is focused.

52
Q

What 3 ways can you control cognitive anxiety?

A

Imagery/mental rehearsal

Positive self talk

Goal setting

53
Q

What 3 ways can you control cognitive anxiety?

A

Imagery/mental rehearsal

Positive self talk

Goal setting

54
Q

What 3 ways can you control cognitive anxiety?

A

Imagery/mental rehearsal

Positive self talk

Goal setting

55
Q

What 3 ways can you control cognitive anxiety?

A

Imagery/mental rehearsal

Positive self talk

Goal setting

56
Q

What 3 ways can you control cognitive anxiety?

A

Imagery/mental rehearsal

Positive self talk

Goal setting

57
Q

What 3 ways can you control cognitive anxiety?

A

Imagery/mental rehearsal

Positive self talk

Goal setting

58
Q

What 3 ways can you control cognitive anxiety?

A

Imagery/mental rehearsal

Positive self talk

Goal setting

59
Q

What 3 ways can you control cognitive anxiety?

A

Imagery/mental rehearsal

Positive self talk

Goal setting

60
Q

What 3 ways can you control cognitive anxiety?

A

Imagery/mental rehearsal

Positive self talk

Goal setting

61
Q

What 3 ways can you control cognitive anxiety?

A

Imagery/mental rehearsal

Positive self talk

Goal setting

62
Q

What 3 ways can you control cognitive anxiety?

A

Imagery/mental rehearsal

Positive self talk

Goal setting

63
Q

What 3 ways can you control cognitive anxiety?

A

Imagery/mental rehearsal

Positive self talk

Goal setting

64
Q

What 3 ways can you control cognitive anxiety?

A

Imagery/mental rehearsal

Positive self talk

Goal setting

65
Q

What 3 ways can you control cognitive anxiety?

A

Imagery/mental rehearsal

Positive self talk

Goal setting

66
Q

What 3 ways can you control cognitive anxiety?

A

Imagery/mental rehearsal

Positive self talk

Goal setting

67
Q

What 3 ways can you control cognitive anxiety?

A

Imagery/mental rehearsal

Positive self talk

Goal setting

68
Q

What 3 ways can you control cognitive anxiety?

A

Imagery/mental rehearsal

Positive self talk

Goal setting

69
Q

What 3 ways can you control cognitive anxiety?

A

Imagery/mental rehearsal

Positive self talk

Goal setting

70
Q

What 3 ways can you control cognitive anxiety?

A

Imagery/mental rehearsal

Positive self talk

Goal setting

71
Q

What 3 ways can you control cognitive anxiety?

A

Imagery/mental rehearsal

Positive self talk

Goal setting

72
Q

What 3 ways can you control cognitive anxiety?

A

Imagery/mental rehearsal

Positive self talk

Goal setting

73
Q

What 3 ways can you control cognitive anxiety?

A

Imagery/mental rehearsal

Positive self talk

Goal setting

74
Q

What 3 ways can you control cognitive anxiety?

A

Imagery/mental rehearsal

Positive self talk

Goal setting

75
Q

What 3 ways can you control cognitive anxiety?

A

Imagery/mental rehearsal

Positive self talk

Goal setting

76
Q

What 3 ways can you control cognitive anxiety?

A

Imagery/mental rehearsal

Positive self talk

Goal setting

77
Q

What 3 ways can you control cognitive anxiety?

A

Imagery/mental rehearsal

Positive self talk

Goal setting

78
Q

What 3 ways can you control cognitive anxiety?

A

Imagery/mental rehearsal

Positive self talk

Goal setting

79
Q

What 3 ways can you control cognitive anxiety?

A

Imagery/mental rehearsal

Positive self talk

Goal setting

80
Q

What 3 ways can you control cognitive anxiety?

A

Imagery/mental rehearsal

Positive self talk

Goal setting

81
Q

What 3 ways can you control cognitive anxiety?

A

Imagery/mental rehearsal

Positive self talk

Goal setting

82
Q

What are the 3 ways of controlling somatic anxiety

A

Progressive Muscle relaxation (PMR)

Centring/Breathing control

Bio feedback

83
Q

Explain progressive muscle relaxation (PMR)

A

Often combined with effective breathing control

contracting + holding + relaxing muscle groups

84
Q

Explain centring/breathing control

A

Maintaining steady breathing rate

Aims to keep you in the present, refocusing concentration

85
Q

Explain bio feedback

A

Measuring of changing physiology responses

86
Q

Define social facilitation

A

Influence of the presence of others.

Zajonc 1965

87
Q

Factors determine whether social facilitation has a positive or negative effect

A

Ability

Task

Personality

88
Q

What were the 4 different types of audience found in sport?

A

Passive:

  • Audience
  • Co-actors

Interactive:

  • Competitors
  • Social reinforcers/supporters
89
Q

Describe passive audience

A

Passive spectators who observe and make no comments but cause pressure.

i.e snooker audience

90
Q

Describe passive co-actors

A

People doing the same things at the same time without competition

i.e someone running next to you on the treadmill.

91
Q

Describe interactive competitiors

A

In direct competition with others

i.e Tour de france

92
Q

Describe interactive social reinforcers/supporters

A

People who have influence

i.e coach, manager, parents…

93
Q

Define social inhibition

A

-ive effect of the presence of others on performance

94
Q

Define social facilitation

A

+ive effect of the presence of others on performance

95
Q

Describe the effects of a cognitive performer being watched

A

⬆️ arousal

⬆️ anxiety

Dominant response = incorrect

⬇️ performance

SOCIAL INHIBITION

96
Q

Describe the effects of an autonomous performer being watched

A

⬆️ arousal

Dominant response = correct

⬆️ performance

SOCIAL FACILITATION

97
Q

Describe the effects of a performer carrying out a complex skill and being watched

A

Stress due to presence of others can -ively affect information processing.

SOCIAL INHIBITION

98
Q

Describe the effects of a performer carrying out a simple skill and being watched

A

Presence of others helps

SOCIAL FACILITATION

99
Q

Define Evaluation Apprehension

A

Cottrell, 1968

It’s not just the presence of others that creates arousal but when they perceive they are being evaluated.

100
Q

What affect does evaluation apprehension have on an autonomous performer

A

They tend to perform well when being evaluated

101
Q

What affect does evaluation apprehension have on a cognitive performer

A

Tends to perform poorly

102
Q

Define Baron’s distraction conflict theory

A

1986

The conflict of attending demands of the task and attending the demands of the distractor which ⬆️ arousal =

Auto / gross / simple / extrovert = ⬆️ performance

Cog / fine / complex / introvert = ⬇️ performance

103
Q

Define the self presentation theory

A

Concerns motivations to behave based on how others evaluate and their knowledge of your behaviour.

PLEASING AUDIENCE - i.e behave differently at a church than when playing sport.

SELF CONSTRUCTION - i.e matching your self presentation to your own ideal of yourself.

104
Q

List all the theories of social facilitation

A

Zajoncs model

Evaluation apprehension

Barons distraction conflict theory

Self-presentation theory

Home field advantage

105
Q

Agreements to home field advantage

A

Larger + proximity of home crowd has -ive effect on visiting team

Away team has travelled so could be tired.

Familiarity of surroundings = more confident

Home support = ⬆️ performance

106
Q

Disagreements to home field advantage

A

⬆️ pressure to perform from home crowd

Performers can become more self-conscious at home = over-arousal

Evaluation apprehension for home team

Players place more pressure on themselves due to expectations

107
Q

List 4 strategies to combatting social inhibition

A

Stress management techniques

Familiarisation by training infront of others

Improving focus and concentration

Encourage support of teammates

P.E - Sports Psychology (6 decks)

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