Arousal (Drive Theory)

Question 1

What is arousal?

Answer 1

Arousal is an energised state, a readiness to perform a drive to achieve. A state of readiness experienced by sports performers before and during competition- always present when playing sport

Question 2

What is drive theory?

Answer 2

Based on the assumption that increased motivation causes increased drive. The more dive we have we get a better chance of increased performance. This theory suggests that arousal increases so does performance in linear fashion
However drive doesn’t always improve performance

Question 3

What is the drive theory formula ?

Answer 3

P = F (D x0
Performance os a function of drive multiplied by habit

Question 4

What causes the ‘dominant response’

Answer 4

At levels of high arousal, less information is processed therefore the performer tends to concentrate on the dominant response

Question 5

Define the ‘Dominant response’

Answer 5

A well-learnt skill that the performer will use when under competitive pressure

Question 6

How does an autonomous performer respond to the dominant response

Answer 6

Dominant response is usually correct, performance levels remain high, works well under high levels of arousal However does not account for elite performers deteriorating under pressure

Question 7

How does a cognitive performer respond to dominant response?

Answer 7

Dominant response may not be developed so they will choose the wrong option, probability of poor performance increases, does not work well under high levels of arousal

Question 8

What is the dominant response during a simple skill?

Answer 8

Does not require much thinking, therefore can be performed at high levels of arousal, dominant response likely to be correct

Question 9

What is the dominant response during a complex skill?

Answer 9

Performance may be impaired because there is a lot of information to process, at high levels of arousal, the ability to process information reduces and some important cues may be missed, dominant response likely to be wrong option

Question 10

What is the criticisms of the drive model?

Answer 10

Doesn’t recognise that over arousal can diminish performance quality, Too simplistic doesn’t account for different people’s psychology or different sports