Arousal

Question 1

What is arousal?

Answer 1

Arousal is a level of activation or excitation, measuring the wakefulness and alertness from deep sleep to agitation.

Question 2

What is the RAS?

Answer 2

Reticular Activating System.

Question 3

What does the RAS do?

Answer 3

Controls anxiety.

Question 4

What are the two branches of the RAS?

Answer 4

Direction and Intensity.

Question 5

What is used to control anxiety?

Answer 5

The RAS, Reticular Activating System.

Question 6

Who created Drive Theory?

Answer 6

Hull.

Question 7

What did Hull create?

Answer 7

Hull created Drive Theory.

Question 8

What was Spence and Spence’s equation?

Answer 8

Performance level = Habit strength x Drive.

Question 9

Who created the equation for Performance level?

Answer 9

Spence and Spence (1968).

Question 10

When did Spence and Spence create the equation for performance?

Answer 10

1968.

Question 11

What were evaluation points for Hull’s Drive Theory?

Answer 11

• Simplistic.
• Doesn’t account for personal differences.
• Doesn’t account for different activities.
• Doesn’t account for different levels of learning.

Question 12

Which theory of arousal is a linear relationship between arousal and performance?

Answer 12

Hull’s Drive Theory.

Question 13

Explain the trend shown in Hull’s Drive Theory:

Answer 13

The linear relationship shows higher arousal levels mean higher level of performance.

Question 14

Who created the Inverted U theory?

Answer 14

Yerkes and Dodson.

Question 15

What are evaluation points for the Inverted U theory?

Answer 15

• Simplistic.
• Doesn’t account for different activities.
• Doesn’t account for personality differences.

Question 16

In the Inverted U theory, what is said to cause under-arousal?

Answer 16

They are tending to too much information and their selective attention is lacking.

Question 17

In the Inverted U theory, what is said to cause over-arousal?

Answer 17

They are missing relevant cues which negatively impact performance.

Question 18

How does over-arousal affect performance?

Answer 18

It decreases performance.

Question 19

When does the zone of optimal performance occur?

Answer 19

At a moderate arousal level.

Question 20

How does the Inverted U shape change for personality differences?

Answer 20

Introverts shift the curve left whilst extroverts shift the curve to the right.

Question 21

Yerkes and Dodson created which theory of arousal?

Answer 21

The Inverted U theory.

Question 22

How does the Inverted U shape change for Introverts?

Answer 22

Shifts to the left as they require less arousal to get in the zone of optimal arousal.

Question 23

How does the Inverted U shape change for Extroverts?

Answer 23

Shifts to the right as they require more arousal to get in the zone of optimal arousal.

Question 24

How does the Inverted U shape change for differences in experience?

Answer 24

A cognitive performer requires lower arousal to reach their optimum performance, an associative performer requires a medium amount of arousal and an autonomous performer requires high levels of arousal.

Question 25

What factors can change the shape or location of the Inverted U?

Answer 25

- Personality, - Experience, - Difficulty

Question 26

How does the Inverted U shape change for task difficulty?

Answer 26

A complex skill requires relatively low arousal levels whereas a simple skill requires a higher arousal level.

Question 27

How does the Inverted U shape change for a complex skill?

Answer 27

The curve is shifted left as less arousal is required for optimal performance.

Question 28

How does the Inverted U shape change for a basic skill?

Answer 28

The curve is shifted right as more arousal is required for optimal performance.

Question 29

Summarise the catastrophe theory:

Answer 29

As arousal increases so does performance, until a threshold, where performance experiences an extreme decline. From there, if arousal decreases then recovery occurs and if arousal increases further then performance worsens at a gradual rate.

Question 30

In the catastrophe theory, what are the possible outcomes after the extreme decline?

Answer 30

Recovery (if arousal lowers) and Gradual worsening (if arousal increases further).

Question 31

What are the key words used to describe the trend shown in Hull's drive theory?

Answer 31

Proportional linear relationship.

Question 32

Which theory does the equation P = f ( H x D ) belong to?

Answer 32

Drive theory.

Question 33

P = f ( H x D ), what does H and D mean?

Answer 33

``` H = The habit strength. D = Drive or arousal level. ```

Question 34

What did Hanin create?

Answer 34

The (Individual) Zone of Optimal Functioning.

Question 35

Who created the (Individual) Zone of Optimal Functioning?

Answer 35

Hanin.

Question 36

What did Hanin suggest about arousal in the IZOF theory?

Answer 36

Hanin suggested that increases in arousal can improve performance and that the optimum level of arousal varies for individual players.

Question 37

What is special about Hanin's IZOF?

Answer 37

Instead of a point of optimum arousal, he described a zone or bandwidth.

Question 38

How did Hanin say an individual could find their zone?

Answer 38

Using techniques such as mental rehearsal, visualisation and positive self-talk.

Question 39

According to Hanin's IZOF, once in the zone what happens to a performer?

Answer 39

- Their performance seems to flow effortlessly. - A state of supreme confidence and calmness under pressure. - The athlete feels that they are in total control of their actions and focus is optimised.

Question 40

What is peak flow experience?

Answer 40

An extension of the feelings and performance levels experienced in the zone.