arousal, stress and anxiety Flashcards
(27 cards)
inverted U theory
performance increase in proportion to increase arousal upto a certian ppoint. the optimal arousal will begin to decrease from then on.
what can under arousal do
boredom and poor concentration
over arousal can lead to
choking
what does catastrophe say about the nature of arousal and anxiety?
They are multidimensional, involving:
Physiological arousal (somatic)
Cognitive arousal (mental processes)
What does the Catastrophe Curve suggest about performance and arousal?
Performance improves with arousal up to a critical point
After that, if cognitive anxiety is high, performance can drop dramatically. if congntive is not high it will stilllead to decrease performance but not catasprohic
What causes the dramatic performance drop (“catastrophe”)?
A perceived mismatch between task demands and an athlete’s capabilities, often linked to cognitive anxiety and stress.
What happens if arousal decreases after a performance catastrophe?
Performance may gradually recover, but not immediately — it needs time and regulation.
why over-arousal influences performance
somatic effects (the biggest one) and cognitive effctes
what are somatic effects
descreased coordination (jerky movements). paralysis by analysis - muscle tension.
cognitive effects
negative thoughts, kose self confidence, attention and concentration shift (tunnel vision). important information can be missed.
what is directional anxiety
whether you find the anxiety to be facilitative or debilitative. control and coping or no control and no coping.
coaching and MST implications
know your players as individuals. not everyone will need the same things before a game.
reduce the importance of the outcome (emphasis mastery)
reduce uncertainty (be supportive, goals are clear)
what is arousal
a level of physiological and psychological activation.
What are the two components of arousal?
Physiological component – e.g., heart rate, breathing, muscle tension
Psychological component – feelings of excitement/confidence or fear/sadness/discomfort
Is arousal the same as anxiety?
No. Arousal ≠ Anxiety
What is anxiety in this context?
A high arousal state that produces feelings of worry and tension.
What is stress in sport?
A perceived imbalance between demands and capabilities, especially when failure has important consequences.
What type of anxiety can stress lead to?
State anxiety, which may be facilitative or debilitative depending on interpretation.
What are the key aspects of stress in sport?
Perceived imbalance between demand and capability
Under high-consequence conditions
Influenced by perception and appraisal
What are examples of perception-related stress factors?
Novelty, predictability, uncertainty, imminence, duration, timing, and ambiguity.
What theory explains the stress process?
The Transactional Model of Stress and Coping (Lazarus & Folkman, 1984)
→ Involves cognitive appraisal of the stressor.
Are stressors in sport general or sport-specific?
Sport-specific
What are the two main categories of stressors in sport?
Competitive stressors – mental/physical errors, opponents, referees, weather, venue
Organisational stressors – 4x more frequent
What are examples of organisational stressors?
Logistical issues (e.g., team selection, finances)
Personal issues (e.g., injury, expectations)
Environmental issues (e.g., motivational climate)
Team issues (e.g., support, communication)
