Theories Of Arousal (Individual Differences)

Question 1

What are the two elements of motivation

Answer 1

1. Arousal (intensity of behaviour)

2. Direction of behaviour (the response we make due to the level of arousal)

Question 2

Define arousal

Answer 2

The physiological and psychological readiness an individual feels

Question 3

What is physiological also known as with some examples

Answer 3

Somatic arousal (HR, BP, go to toilet to reduce weight)

Question 4

What is psychological arousal known as with some examples

Answer 4

Cognitive anxiety (worry before a game)

Question 5

Define dominant response

Answer 5

The dominant response is the one most likely to occur in success or failure

Question 6

What is the equation for drive theory

Answer 6

Behaviour = habit x drive 
B = H x D

Question 7

Talk about a novices level of arousal and performance

Answer 7

Novices more likely to perform badly when highly aroused as the dominant response is likely to be incorrect

Question 8

What level of arousal are cognitive and associative learners best suited to and why

Answer 8

Low levels of arousal as high levels of arousal inhibits perception and performance of fine motor programmes

Question 9

What level of arousal are experts suited to and why

Answer 9

High levels of arousal as dominant response is likely to be correct

Question 10

What type of performance does high levels of arousal benefit and why

Answer 10

Aids performance is gross skills as require explosive power

Question 11

Give a sporting example of inverted U theory

Answer 11

Footballer does something well and crowd cheers them on. They then get cocky as over aroused and so begins to make poor decisions

Question 12

Define 2 attributes of being under aroused (inverted U theory)

Answer 12

1. Under aroused
2. Attention boarding
3. Doesn’t focus on relevant info
4. Doesn’t filter irrelevant info

Question 13

Define 2 attributes of being optimally aroused (inverted U theory)

Answer 13

1. Attention on relevant info
2. Selective attention and cue utilisation
3. Max capacity to make fast and accurate decisions

Question 14

Define 2 attributes of being over aroused (inverted U theory)

Answer 14

1. Attentional narrowing
2. Over focused and miss relevant cues causing panic
3. Poor decision making

Question 15

How is performance optimised in the catastrophe theory

Answer 15

If somantic arousal increases so does performance up to the OP but only if cognitive anxiety is kept low

Question 16

What happens if both cognitive anxiety and somantic arousal are high (2 things)

Answer 16

If these are both high then performance goes above the optimal point.
Performer loses concentration and is a sharp decrease in performance

Question 17

Can performance be brought back after being over aroused in the catastrophe theory (2 things)

Answer 17

1. If arousal controlled/lowered after the performer gets ‘over the edge’ then performance can move back to the optimal level
2. If arousal isn’t controlled and continues to increase then performance continues to deteriorate