Week 21 - Stress, Arousal & Anxiety

Question 1

define STRESSORS

Answer 1

events, forces, situations interpreted as stressful - can be + (eustress) or - (distress)

Question 2

define STRESS RESPONSE

Answer 2

physiological, cognitive, affective, behavioural reaction to demands

Question 3

define AROUSAL

Answer 3

a general state of activation from deep sleep to extreme excitement

Question 4

define ANXIETY

Answer 4

a (typically) negative state

Question 5

define trait anxiety

Answer 5

general predisposition to experience anxiety in a variety of situations

Question 6

define state anxiety

Answer 6

anxiety experienced in certain situations but not others

Question 7

what are the 2 branches of state anxiety ?

Answer 7

• cognitive

- somatic

Question 8

define cognitive anxiety

Answer 8

mental component

Question 9

define somatic anxiety

Answer 9

physiological component

Question 10

define cognitive appraisal

Answer 10

out interpretation of a situation

• is the situation significant to me?
• could it affect me?

Question 11

define primary appraisal

Answer 11

• what is at stake?

- is the situation relevant?

Question 12

define secondary appraisal

Answer 12

• what can be done?

- do i have the resources to manage the situation?

Question 13

define threat state

Answer 13

situational demands are higher than capacity to deal with demands

Question 14

define challenge state

Answer 14

situational demands are lower than capacity to deal with demands

Question 15

define COPING

Answer 15

cognitive and behavioural efforts to manage our interpretations / response to stressors

Question 16

define the matching hypothesis

Answer 16

• only use arousal regulation techniques if the individual’s levels of arousal are perceived as DEBILITATIVE
• chosen technique should align with type of anxiety

Question 17

define the drive theory (hull 1943)

Answer 17

• direct correlation between arousal and performance

- only applicable to basic tasks e.g. hand grip

Question 18

define the inverted- u theory (yerkes & dodsen 1908)

Answer 18

• arousal increases performance to a certain extent

- too much arousal will decrease performance

Question 19

define the CUSP catastrophe theory (hardy 1990)

Answer 19

optimal performance when
- high C anxiety and moderate S anxiety

dramatic decrease when
- high C anxiety and high S anxiety

Question 20

define the individual zone of optimal functioning theory (hanin 1980)

Answer 20

• ideal levels of C and S arousal / anxiety from athletes to athlete

Question 21

consistently high levels of anxiety are associated with…

Answer 21

• decreased performance

- negative affect (anger, sadness, frustration)

Question 22

coping strategies are associated with…

Answer 22

• improved performance

- positive affect (happiness, vitality, confidence)