Arousal theories

• Arousal

  A state of alertness and anticipation that prepares the body for action
• Reticular Activation System

  • This controls the level of arousal and therefore controls levels of readiness and can determine an athlete's drive to perform
• Drive Theory - Hull

  • As arousal increases performance increases
  • AO3 - It's too simplistic
• Dominant response

  Is the habitual response that is thought to be correct by the performer, even at high arousal levels. This relates closely to the level of the performer
• Inverted U theory

  • Suggests that the link between arousal and performance reaches an optimal point at moderate levels of arousal
• Catastrophe theory

  • Arousal improves performance up to a point
  • A sudden dramatic collapse when arousal increases beyond the optimal point
  • Collapse is due to a combination of somatic and cognitive anxiety/arousal effects
  • Once catastrophe has occurred - athlete needs to relax below the point of arousal at which catastrophe has occured
• The Zone of Optimal Functioning (Hanin)

  • Suggests that rather than having an optimal arousal point, performers have an optimal zone/area where optimum performance occurs
  • It can be different for each athlete and athletes can use all their experience and techniques to reach this optimum zone