TEST 3 - arousal regulation, imagery, self-confidence, and goal setting Flashcards
Why should we regulate arousal?
- to stay focused and in control
What is the relationship with overall performance and coping skills?
performance decreases with lack of effective coping skills in response to stress
What is the FIRST STEP in controlling arousal?
self-awareness; knowing what your current levels are
What are the 3 main types of anxiety-reducing techniques?
- multimodal techniques
- somatic anxiety reduction
- cognitive anxiety reduction
What is somatic anxiety reduction? What does it entail?
an anxiety reduction technique focused on the physical aspects of anxiety; done through progressive relaxation, breath control, and/or biofeedback
How do you implement the progressive relaxation aspect of somatic anxiety reduction?
Learn to feel the tension in your muscles and then to let go of the tension (similar to a weightlifter who can identify a weight by feeling it)
How do you implement breath control (somatic)?
when you are under pressure, your breathing will be short, shallow, and irregular as opposed to when you are calm/cool/collected, in which your breathing will be smooth, deep, and rhythmic
How can you implement biofeedback w/ somatic anxiety reduction?
by becoming more aware of your ANS and learning to control physiological and autonomic responses by receiving feedback not normally available
How can a person implement cognitive anxiety reduction techniques?
the relaxation response teaches individuals to quiet the mind, concentrate, and reduce muscle tension by applying elements of meditation
What is involved in multimodal anxiety reduction?
stress inoculation training
What is stress inoculation training (SIT)?
a method of anxiety reduction in which an individual is exposed to and learns to cope with stress in increasing amounts, thereby enhancing his or her immunity’s success
What are the four steps of SIT?
- prepare for the stressor
- control and handle the stressor
- cope w/ feelings of being overwhelmed
- evaluate your coping efforts
What is hypnosis?
an altered state of consciousness that can be induced by a procedure in which a person is in an unusually relaxed state and responds to suggestions designed to alter perceptions, feelings, thoughts, and actions
What are two things to remember when it comes to hypnosis?
- the smarter a person is, the more receptive they are to hypnosis
- the deeper the trance, the more likely it is that suggestions under hypnosis will be given
What are the 4 stages of hypnosis?
- lowering arousal - INDUCTION
- making suggestions - HYPNOTIC PHASE
- raising arousal - WAKING PHASE
- everyday life - POSTHYPNOTIC PHASE
What does the matching hypothesis state?
it states that an anxiety reduction technique should make the particular problem
What is coping?
a process of constantly changing cognitive and behavioral efforts to manage specific internal/external demands or conflicts appraised as taxing or exceeding one’s resources
problem-focused coping
coping that involves efforts to alter or manage the problems that are causing the stress
emotion-focused coping
regulating the emotional responses to the problem that causes the stress
What are the major problem-focused categories of coping?
- information gathering
- pre-competition and competition plans
- goal setting
- time management skills
- problem solving
What are the major emotion-focused categories of coping?
- meditation
- relaxation
- wishful thinking
- reappraisal
- self-blame / mental/behavioral withdrawal
- cognitive efforts to change the meaning of the situation, but not the actual problem/environment
What does it mean to have a corrective experience?
what this means is that the athlete makes a conscious decision to engage in the behavior that is of concern
What can corrective experiences actually lead to?
reducing anxiety and correcting past mistakes
What is withdrawal coping?
- avoiding the problem altogether under the guise of coping
- effective in reducing immediate stress of competition, but with long-term variables, negative relationship found
What is the definition of imagery?
a form of stimulation that involves recalling from memory pieces of information stores from experiences and shaping those experiences into meaningful images; synonymous with visualization, mental rehearsal, symbolic rehearsal, covert practice, mental practice
What are the basics of imagery?
- involves creating/recreating an experience in your mind and involves all the senses (even those outside of the “5 senses”)
- visual
- kinesthetic
- auditory
- tactile
- olfactory
- thermodynamic, etc.
What are the functions of imagery?
- improve concentration
- enhance motivation
- build confidence
- control emotional responses
- acquire/practice/correct sport skills
- acquire and practice strategy
- prepare for competition
- cope with pain and adversity
- solve problems
What is external imagery perspective?
visualizing yourself from the perspective of an outside observer (as if you were watching yourself in a movie)