Anxiety

• Anxiety


  A negative emotional state that is closely associated with arousal, involving apprehension and awareness of high arousal related to our fears and worries
• Factors affecting anxiety

  • Intensity/stress of situation (importance of result)
  • Crowds
  • Feeling of being threatened (physical harm, fear of letting others down)
• Competitive anxiety


  The fear or worry/apprehension experienced during or about competitive experiences
• Individual differences in how people interact with a situation

  • Different types of anxiety can be treated in different ways
  • General or specific anxiety
• Trait anxiety


  • A performer with high trait anxiety has a predisposition or potential to react to situations with apprehension/to be anxious
  • Continuous anxiety/innate
  • Stable/enduring
• Competitive trait anxiety


  A tendency to perceive competition/competitive situations as threatening and to respond to these situations with feelings of apprehension or tension
• Somatic anxiety


  Anxiety experienced physiologically - increased HR, pulse, adrenaline, tension headaches, sweating, increased respiratory rate, increased blood pressure
• Relaxation techniques such as deep breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, and visualization are commonly used by sports psychologists to reduce anxiety levels.
• Cognitive anxiety


  Anxiety experienced by the mind eg worry about failing
• Cognitive anxiety symptoms

  1. nervousness
  2. worry/apprehension
  3. disturbed sleep
  4. self-doubt/ negative thoughts
• Somatic anxiety symptoms

  1. increased heart rate
  2. tension/ headaches
  3. sweating hands
  4. increased respiratory rate
  5. feeling sick
  6. needing to urinate
  7. increased blood pressure
• What is the Zone of Optimal Functioning?

  It is when an athlete's arousal/anxiety levels are at the optimum level for performance.
• Why is the Zone of Optimal Functioning important for athletes?

  It allows athletes to perform at their best by managing their arousal and anxiety levels.
• How does the Zone of Optimal Functioning vary among different performers?

  It varies because some performers react better to pressure than others.
• What emotional factors might influence an athlete's performance in the Zone of Optimal Functioning?

  Some athletes may perform better when they are angry or emotionally charged.
• What external factors can affect an athlete's performance in the Zone of Optimal Functioning?

  Factors such as injury or poor training can impact performance.
• What are the key components that define the Zone of Optimal Functioning for athletes?

  • Arousal/anxiety levels at an optimum level
  • Individual differences in response to pressure
  • Emotional influences on performance
  • External factors like injury or training conditions
• Characteristics of ZOF

  • focused/concentrating
  • play is more natural
  • effortless/automatic
  • enjoying/ satisfying
  • confident
• What is the term used to describe when athletes achieve optimum performance levels associated with a particular emotional response?


  Peak Flow Experience
• What does the term "in the zone" refer to in athletic performance?

  It refers to a state where the only emphasis is on performance and nothing else matters.
• How is performance related to inner drive and self-motivation according to arousal theories?

  Performance is positively related to the amount of inner drive and self-motivation.
• What mental strategies might athletes use to achieve the Peak Flow Experience consistently?

  • Visualization techniques
  • Positive self-talk
  • Goal setting
  • Focus on the present moment
• What is often the emotional state associated with the Peak Flow Experience?

  A particular emotional response
• How do theories related to arousal contribute to understanding athletic performance?

  They show that performance is related to inner drive and self-motivation.