Stress, Arousal & Anxiety Flashcards
Define arousal
Mental and physical state of alertness or readiness to perform.
Ranging on a continuum from deep sleep to intense excitement.
List 4 factors in sport that can affect arousal levels
Level of competition
Crowds
Not playing well
Bad referee
When does an increase in arousal help performer?
increases energy
Helps an autonomous performer(expert)
Helps simple/gross skills
When does an increase in arousal hinder performance?
Complex / fine skills
Cognitive performer
List the 4 theories of arousal
Hull’s drive theory
Inverted u theory
Catastrophe theory
ZOF theory
Explain Hulls drive theory
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
List 3 criticisms to Hulls drive theory
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
Explain the inverted u theory
Performance improves with arousal up to the optimal point. Past this an ⬆️ in arousal =⬇️ in performance
What are the symptoms of under arousal
Physiological - little adrenaline + low HR
Cognitive - Lack of focus
What are the symptoms of moderate arousal
Good selective attention and concentration
What are the symptoms of over arousal
Physiological - Tension, shaking, ⬆️ in HR
Cognitive - Lack of focus
Good points to the inverted u-theory
Flexible for different skills and personalities
Recognises under and over arousal problems
Negatives to the inverted u theory
When arousal is too high there’s not always a gradual drop in performance, some times theres a steep drop
What can the optimal level of arousal differ according to
Type of activity
Skill level of performer
Personality of performer
What controls and measures the levels of adrenaline in the body guiding as to whether a person is an extrovert or introvert?
the reticular activating system
Explain the catastrophe theory
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
When might the performance gradually decline in the catastrophe theory?
If the performer has low levels of cognitive state anxiety and somatic anxiety.
Give examples of somatic anxiety
Sweating, butterflies and an increase in HR
When might the performance drop in the catastrophe theory?
If the performer has high levels of arousal, cognitive and somatic anxiety.
Explain Zone of Optimal functioning arousal theory
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.
What can the ZOF alter depending on
Type of skill
Level of performance
Personality
What can being in the ZOF lead to
Peak flow experience
Define peak flow experience
Clear goals
Totally focused
Effortless movement
Ability to complete challenge successfully
List 5 factors that affect peak flow experience
injury
Fatigue
negative self talk
Lack of challenge
Crowd hostility
Define anxiety
negatively emotional state caused by a threatening situation
List the 6 types of anxiety
somatic
cognitive
trait
state
competitive state
competitive trait
Define somatic anxiety
Physiological responses
Prior to comp = Low but rise quickly immediately b4 performance.
During comp = tends to ⬇️
Define cognitive anxiety
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
Define trait anxiety
Trait within an individual that determines their potential to react with apprehension.
What does it mean if someone easily becomes anxious?
They have high trait anxiety (A-trait)
Define state anxiety
Anxiety felt in a particular situation made up of somatic and cognitive anxiety
Linked to performers mood
A-state anxiety
Define competitive state anxiety
Anxiety levels when in a specific competitive sporting situation
Define competitive trait anxiety
Tendency to see competitive situations as threatening and to respond with feelings of anxiety in comprehensive situations.
How long is competitive state anxiety
temporary
What are the 2 forms of stress
Eustress
Distress
Define eustress
Positive type of stress that can:
⬆️ focus, attention and skill level
Define distress
Negative type of stress and in extreme cases causes anxiety and apprehension.
Tends to be detrimental to sporting performance
Define stressors
Factors that cause stress therefore start the stress process
What does stressors effect depend on
How the individual perceives them in relation to their own ability and personality
If stressor is bigger than ability = Anxiety
List 4 sport specific stressors
Competition
Frustration
Personal - High A-trait
Physiological - putting body under strain
What is the stress process
- Demands of situation
- Athlete’s perception of demands
- ⬆️ arousal
- Outcome
What can the athletes perception of the demands (step 2 of stress process) be?
Positive (challenging) – ⬆️ motivation and energy — ⬆️ levels of performance
Negative (Threatening) – ⬆️anxiety — ⬇️ level of performance