Mix of stress arousal anxiety

Define eustress

Good stress that motivates you to continue working

Define stress

A state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or demanding circumstances

Explain eustress

Stress can be a motivator + provide incentive to get the job done.

Define distress

bad stress when good stress becomes too much to bear or cope with

Explain distress

• Tension builds

• No fun in challenge

• Leads to poor decision making

What are physiological symptoms of distress

• Increased blood pressure

• Rapid breathing

• Generalised tension

What are behavioural symptoms of distress

• Overeating

• Loss of appetite

• Drinking/smoking

What graph can be used to show the impact of stress levels on performance

Inverted U

Define anxiety

Emotional state associated with physiological (somatic) and psychological (cognitive)arousal and with feelings of nervousness + apprehension

Define trait anxiety

The personality core - consistent worry regardless of situation

Define state anxiety

Changeable and varies depending on situation

Define Cognitive state

Knowledge + perceptions - anxiety

Define somatic state

Physiological changes due to perception of situation

When is high levels of cognitive anxiety beneficial

• Accompanied by low somatic anxiety

• Occurring days before the event

As the event gets nearer what should happen in regards to somatic anxiety

• Somatic anxiety increases to a peak just before performance

• This then declines when performance begins

What happens if somatic anxiety doesn't decrease when performance starts

Catastrophe occurs

Define arousal

psychological state of alertness + anticipation that prepares the body for action

Explain drive theory

• Linear relationship between arousal and performance

• As arousal increases so will quality of performance

Relate drive theory (Hull) to performers

Higher levels of arousal would intensify the dominant response:

• Elite performance likely to have the correct response

• Beginners likely to have the incorrect response

Is Hull's Inverted U theory an adequate explanation for the link between arousal and performance

No because when arousal reaches a high enough point, performance will not improve

Who invented the inverted U hypothesis

Yerkes and Dobson

Explain the Inverted U theory (Yerkes and Dobson)

Suggests that performance increases to an optimum point and then decreases

Example of the Inverted U theory (Yerkes and Dobson )

Paul Gascoigne 1991 FA cup

How is the inverted U theory furthered

Applying the different phases of learning

Does the inverted U theory apply equally to the different phases of learning

• Beginners find it more difficult to cope with arousal because it is less habitual

• Beginner (cognitive) need to give more attention to he skills itself + arousal levels may take away that concentration

• Rely heavily on environmental cues

Does the Inverted U theory apply to all sports performance in the same way?

Can vary according to skill being performed

• Gross skills benefit from higher levels of arousal than fine skills

Shot put v Archery

• Can vary within a sport dependent upon role

Goalkeeper v midfielder

Where is maximum performance on the inverted u graph

Zone of optimal functioning

What are the characteristics of the zone of optimum functioning

• Performing at optimal arousal

• Completely calm

• Fully concentrated on task

• Completely confident

• Performing smoothly and efficiently

What theory explains what happens during over arousal

Catastrophe Theory

Explain Catastrophe Theory

Suggests much faster and more dramatic decline

It is more of a model than a theory as it attempts to predict human behaviour rather than explain it

Explain point A of the Catastrophe Theory

Performer reaches optimum level of arousal

High cognitive anxiety but low somantic arousal

Explain point B of the Catastrophe Theory

performer has sudden reduction in performance

High cognitive + high somantic arousal

Explain point C of the Catastrophe Theory

Possible that performance will continue to deteriorate

Explain point D of the Catastrophe Theory

Performer gradually regains control as arousal levels decrease

2 examples of questionnaires to measure anxiety

1. The sport Competition Anxiety Test

2. The Competitive State Anxiety Inventory

Criticisms of tests the measure anxiety

• Physiological measure put the subject under extra anxiety, the situation itself creates anxiety

• Observations are subjective + are also artificial environments causing extra anxiety

• Questionnaires may not give a true reflection, but are popular as they are quick + cheap

What forms are formats are there to measure anxiety

• Physiological measures of Somatic anxiety (HR, muscle tension + sweating)

• Observation

• Questionnaire

Somatic techniques to manage stress, anxiety and arousal

• Breathing techniques

  • Slows HR + engages diaphragm to promote relocation by stimulation parasymphathetic NS

• Progressive Muscular Relaxation

  • Systematically tensing + relaxing different muscle groups to help become more aware go the physical sensation

Cognitive techniques to manage stress, anxiety and arousal

• Goal Setting

  • Provides direction, motivation + focus helping individual

• Imagery

• Mental rehearsal

• Self talk

Define eustress

Good stress that motivates you to continue working

Define stress

A state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or demanding circumstances

Explain eustress

Stress can be a motivator + provide incentive to get the job done

Define distress

bad stress when good stress becomes too much to bear or cope with

Explain distress

Tension builds
No fun in challenge
Leads to poor decision making

What are physiological symptoms of distress

• Increased blood pressure

• Rapid breathing

• Generalised tension

What are behavioural symptoms of distress

• Overeating

• Loss of appetite

• Drinking/smoking

What graph can be used to show the impact of stress levels on performance

Inverted U

Define anxiety

Emotional state associated with physiological (somatic) and psychological (cognitive)arousal and with feelings of nervousness + apprehension

Define trait anxiety

The personality core - consistent worry regardless of situation

Define state anxiety

Changeable and varies depending on situation

Define Cognitive state

Knowledge + perceptions - anxiety

Define somatic state

Physiological changes due to perception of situation

When is high levels of cognitive anxiety beneficial

• Accompanied by low somatic anxiety

• Occurring days before the event

As the event gets nearer what should happen in regards to somatic anxiety

• Somatic anxiety increases to a peak just before performance

• This then declines when performance begins

What happens if somatic anxiety doesn't decrease when performance starts

Catastrophe occurs

Define arousal

psychological state of alertness + anticipation that prepares the body for action

Explain drive theory

• Linear relationship between arousal and performance

• As arousal increases so will quality of performance

Relate drive theory (Hull) to performers

Higher levels of arousal would intensify the dominant response:

• Elite performance likely to have the correct response

• Beginners likely to have the incorrect response

Is Hull's Drive theory an adequate explanation for the link between arousal and performance

No because when arousal reaches a high enough point, performance will not improve

Who invented the inverted U hypothesis

Yerkes and Dodson

Explain the Inverted U theory (Yerkes and Dodson)

Suggests that performance increases to an optimum point and then decreases

Example of the Inverted U theory (Yerkes and Dobson )

Paul Gascoigne 1991 FA cup

How is the inverted U theory furthered