Arousal

• Arousal


  The energised state, or readiness for action that motivates a performer to behave in a particular way
• Arousal


  • Represents intensity aspect of motivation
  • Increases heart rate, breathing rate, sweat production
  • Worry, anxious, negative state decreases performance, positive state enhances performance
• Arousal


  • Rounders player trying to impress friends
  • Cricketer scores 6 runs when trying hard
  • Footballer misses target during penalty as trying too hard
  • Sprinter making false start in Olympics
  • Rugby player getting red card in first 10 minutes of final
• Inverted-U hypothesis


  Describes the relationship between arousal and performance as linear - as arousal level increases, performance/achievement increases
• Inverted-U hypothesis


  • Performance depends on a well learned skill (dominant response)
  • If dominant response is correct then performance will be enhanced, if incorrect (for beginner) and level of arousal is intense, performance will decrease
  • Drive may be reduced if individual loses motivation = drive reduction or reactive inhibition
  • If performer believes they're performing to the best of their ability, performance becomes habitual and no motivation for improvement
• Optimal arousal


  • As arousal level increases, so does performance
  • Optimum performance is achieved when arousal levels meet demands of physical skill being performed
  • If arousal levels are too high, there will be a decline in performance and performer will become anxious
  • Depends on skill level of performer, activity type and personality
• Catastrophe model


  • Shows how somatic and cognitive aspect of anxiety interact to determine performer's reaction to high levels of stress
  • Shows a more dramatic decline in performance when arousal is pushed above optimal level
  • As somatic arousal increases, so will performance quality, but optimal level can only be reached with lower levels of cognitive arousal
  • If there are high levels of cognitive AND somatic arousal, then performance will decline dramatically - 'catastrophic event'
  • If after catastrophe, cognitive anxiety decreases, then performance can improve but not to optimal (reverse-U curve)
• What does the drive theory describe?

  The relationship between arousal and performance as linear
• How does arousal affect performance according to the drive theory?

  Higher arousal levels lead to higher achievement/performance levels
• What happens to a well-learned skill when arousal is high?

  The dominant response is intensified
• What is the outcome if the dominant response is correct under high arousal?

  The performance will be enhanced
• What occurs if the dominant response is incorrect and the arousal level is intense?

  The level of performance could decrease
• What can lead to drive reduction in an individual?

  Losing motivation
• What happens when a performer believes they are performing to the best of their ability?

  The performance becomes habitual and no motivation for improvement is needed
• What is the relationship between arousal and performance in the drive theory?

  • Arousal and performance are linearly related
  • Higher arousal leads to higher performance
  • Correct dominant responses enhance performance
  • Incorrect dominant responses can decrease performance
• What factors can influence drive reduction in performance?

  • Loss of motivation
  • Belief in performing at best ability
  • Habitual performance leading to lack of improvement motivation
• What happens to performance as arousal level increases according to the Inverted-U Theory?

  Performance increases as arousal level increases.
• What is the condition for achieving optimum performance in the Inverted-U Theory?

  Optimum performance is achieved when arousal levels meet the demands of the physical skill being performed.
• What occurs to performance if arousal levels are too high according to the Inverted-U Theory?

  There will be a decline in performance.
• What are the key points of the Inverted-U Theory?

  • Performance increases with arousal level.
  • Optimum performance occurs when arousal meets skill demands.
  • High arousal levels lead to a decline in performance.
• What affects optimum arousal level?

  • skill level of performer- more skilful is higher pptimum arousal
  • Activity type- gross skill is higher arousal
  • Personality- more extrovert = higher arousal
• What does Catastrophe Theory describe in performance?

  A sudden, dramatic drop in performance
• How does the Inverted U theory relate to arousal and performance?

  It shows a steady decline in performance when arousal is raised above optimum levels
• What distinguishes Catastrophe Theory from the Inverted U theory?

  Catastrophe Theory shows a much more dramatic decline in performance
• What are the two types of anxiety considered in Catastrophe Theory?

  Somatic anxiety and cognitive anxiety
• How is somatic anxiety experienced?

  Physiologically, such as sweating
• How is cognitive anxiety experienced?

  By worrying about falling or negative outcomes
• How do somatic and cognitive anxiety interact in performance?

  Cognitive anxiety is the most crucial in determining a performer's reactions to high levels of stress
• What are the performance outcomes at different points in Catastrophe Theory?

  • Point A: High cognitive anxiety, low somatic anxiety → Performance enhanced
  • Point B: High cognitive anxiety, high somatic anxiety → Performance can deteriorate
  • Point C: Performance still deteriorating
  • Point D: Performance does not return to original level immediately despite attempts to decrease arousal
• What happens at Point A in Catastrophe Theory?

  Performance is enhanced with high cognitive anxiety and low somatic anxiety
• What occurs at Point B in Catastrophe Theory?

  Performance can deteriorate with high cognitive and somatic anxiety
• What does Point D indicate about performance recovery?

  Performance does not return to original level immediately even though the performer is trying to decrease arousal
• What is happening at Point C in Catastrophe Theory?

  Performance is still deteriorating
• What is the relationship between arousal and performance in Catastrophe Theory?

  Performance declines dramatically when arousal exceeds optimal levels
• Strengths of drive theory

  • Simple to understand or clearly shows the relationship between arousal and performance
  • This theory is made more reliable/ accurate by relating arousal to dominant response. or it is true that If the dominant response is correct then the performance improves
  • For some performers/experts/extroverts it is an accurate representation of what happens when arousal increases
  • It is more likely to be accurate for certain types of skills / gross / simple skills
  • It helps teachers /coaches to understand effect of arousal on performance
• What is a weakness of drive theory regarding the quality of performance and arousal levels?

  Quality of performance does not always increase as levels of arousal increase
• Why is drive theory considered too simplistic in its view of arousal and performance?

  It presents a linear relationship that rarely happens
• What individual factors does drive theory fail to consider?

  It doesn’t take into account individual differences, level of performer, personality, and type of skill
• What limitation does drive theory have regarding high arousal levels?

  It doesn’t explain the decline in performance at high arousal
• Why does drive theory not account for the performance of some individuals at low arousal?

  It doesn’t explain why some people, experts, or extroverts perform well at low arousal