Arousal

Arousal

• the intensity of our emotion , motivation, and behaviour

Drive theory

• Relationship between arousal and performance is linear. higher arousal level intensifies dominant response, if the dominant response was correct then performance will be enhanced. If dominant response was incorrect then performance could decrease

• Drive may be reduced if the individual loses motivation = drive reductioN

Drive theory advantages

• Simple to understand - clear relationship

• More reliable by relating arousal to dominant response

Drive theory disadvantages

• Quality of performance doesn’t always improve if arousal increases

• Too simplistic view of relationship

• Doesn’t take into account personality / skill

• Doesn’t explain why some skills are performed well at low arousal

 

Inverted u theory

• There is an optimum arousal level and if aroused more than this performance will decline.

• At lower levels of arousal the performer will not be physiologically or psychologically ready to perform their best

Optimum arousal levels for each sport depend on :

• Type of activity - gross skills require high arousal , fine skills require low arousal

• Skill level of performer - the more skilful the performer, the higher the optimum arousal could be

• Personality of performer- the more extrovert the performer, the higher the arousal likely for optimum performance.

Inverted u theory advantages

• True that there is a certain optimum point of arousal

• Shows that above or below optimum performance wont be best

• Recognises that optimum arousal level differs for each sport / person / skill

Inverted u theory disadvantages

• Optimum arousal may not be at mid point

• Doesn’t explain how perfromance can recover after over arousal

 

Catastrophe theory

• dramatic decline in performance when arousal is raised above the optimum

• 2 types of arousal - somatic + cognitive. Cognitive is important for determining  performers reaction to high stress

• As somatic arousal increases so does performance, optimal levels of arousal can only be reached with lower levels of cognitive arousal

• If high levels of both then performance will decrease dramatically

• If after the catastrophe, CA decreases then performance can improve

Catastrophe advantages

• Gives a realistic explanation for why performers can crumble in big events

• Shows that performers can recover by lowering arousal to improve performance

• More realistic

• Sudden decrease in performance more accurate than gradual decline

Catastrophe disadvantages

• Not all performers have a dramatic decline in performance when over aroused

• Some performers cope well with cognitive arousal by using stress management techniques