1. 5. Arousal and Anxiety

2. Contents Stress Arousal Stressors Drive Theory Symptoms of stress
Controlling anxiety- Cognitive
Controlling anxiety- Somatic
Social Facilitation
Facilitation V Inhibition
Effects of an Audience
Coping with Inhibition
Arousal
Drive Theory
Inverted U Theory
Zone of Optimal functioning
Anxiety
Types of anxiety
Catastrophe Theory

3. Arousal
“A state of physical and mental preparedness for action” Strongly linked to Anxiety Reticular Activated System (RAS) causes arousal, Extroverts have higher natural levels, Introverts have lower.

4. Drive Theory
Proposed a linear relationship between arousal and performance
As arousal increases so will quality of performance
Increased Arousal leads to increase in likelihood of Dominant response
Well learnt skills rather than newly learnt
Highly aroused performer will need to focus on Desired response if it is newly learnt

5. Inverted U Theory Performance increases up to a certain point
Ernie Els
Worst over ever?
Lion's Team talk
Performance increases up to a certain point
Then it will drop off
Where the optimum point is will depend upon…
Type of activity
Gross skills require higher than fine skills
Skill level or performer
More skilful will allow for higher levels of arousal
Personality of performer
More extrovert will need higher levels (RAS)

6. Zone of Optimal functioning
Optimal arousal isn’t always at the midpoint of the inverted U, it will vary between Sportspeople An athlete’s best performance will be in the Zone (Not just a point)
Performance
Arousal
Cognitive
Associative
Autonomous
Performance
Arousal
Fine/
Complex
Gross/
Simple

7. Anxiety
“An emotional state often associated with fear Negative aspect of Arousal Displayed in both Cognitive (Psychological) and Somatic (Physical) ways

8. Types of anxiety State Anxiety in a specific situation (unstable)
Feelings nervousness or apprehension to a specific event or situation.
Will fluctuate throughout performance
Elevated before the start of the game,
Drop when they settle into the game
Peak in the last few seconds.
Trait
Part of our personality (stable)
Tends to…
Be fearful in unfamiliar situations
Perceive competitive situations as threatening
Respond to competitive situations with Apprehension and tension.

9. Catastrophe theory A D C B
Based upon Inverted U theory but differs in what happens during over arousal…
Inverted U suggests gradual decline
Catastrophe theory suggests much faster and more dramatic decline
More of a model than a theory as it attempts to predict human behaviour rather than explain it
Performance
Arousal A B C D
A- Performer reaches Optimum level of arousal
High cognitive anxiety but low Somatic arousal
B- Performer has sudden reduction in performance
High cognitive and High Somatic arousal
C- Possible that performance will continue to deteriorate
D- Performer gradually regains control as arousal levels decrease
Biggest sporting chokes

10. Stress
“A response in the body to demands placed upon it” Symptoms are Psychological, Physiological and Behavioural

11. Stressors Stressors are the cause of stress, they can be grouped into…
Social- Including disapproval, rejection or isolation (Significance of individual)
Chemical- Ingestion of “nasty” substances
Bacterial- Illness causes by micro-organisms
Physical- Injury, pain or exhaustion
Climatic- Extremes of weather
Psychological- Mismatch in the demands of the task compared to perception

12. Symptoms of stress Physiological Decreased blood flow to skin Sweating
Increased BP
Increased HR
Increased oxygen uptake
Behavioural
Rapid talking
Nail biting
Yawning
Need to urinate
Trembling
Psychological
Worry
Feeling overwhelmed
Inability to concentrate
Inability to make decisions
Attentional Narrowing

13. Controlling anxiety- Cognitive
Attempts to move attention away from perceived failure -Controlling emotions to develop self confidence
Imagery relaxation
- Associated images of relaxation recalled
- Used prior to competition
Thought stopping
- Substituting negative thoughts with positive
- Thinking the word “Stop” as a control
Visualisation (Mental Rehearsal)
Rehearsing the image with no movement
Aids concentration and confidence
Takes focus away form situation
Pre-Game routines
Set of drills or practices simulating situation
Hopes to create a rhythmic, relaxed and automatic response (“Entering the Zone”)

14. Controlling anxiety- Somatic
Attempts to reduce the impact of the Somatic signs of anxiety
Progressive Muscular relaxation (PMR)
Focus on specific muscle groups, one at a time
Tense muscle to maximal point
Visualise tension flowing out of muscle
Centering
Focusing on Diaphragmatical breathing
Famously used by John McEnroe
Biofeedback
Monitoring of a physiological variable which is affected by somatic anxiety…
Thinking pleasant thoughts
Diverting attention away from anxiety producing stimulus
Only works if performer has already learned process

15. Social Facilitation
The effect that the presence of spectators has on the way sports people perform. If positive- known as Social Facilitation If negative- known as Social Inhibition

16. Facilitation V Inhibition
Higher levels of arousal result in improved performance… Expert performer Extrovert performer Gross skills
Higher levels of arousal result in reduced performance… Novice performer Introvert performer Fine skills
Other factors which determine the affect of the audience…
Size of audience Proximity of audience Hostility of audience

17. Distraction techniques
Top 10 distractions
Curtain of distraction
Effects of an Audience
Zajonc’s Model The presence of others creates arousal This will increase chance of Dominant response Highly skilled Dominant response will be correct Lower skilled Dominant response will be Incorrect Evaluation Apprehension Presence of audience is perceived as evaluating you Stronger effect if someone significant is watching
Distraction effect Distraction is defined as a lack of concentration If attentional focus is broken performer will be distracted Performers need to practice in distracting situations Home field advantage More teams win at home than away- Why? Crowd judged as supportive or hostile Playing in their own stadium reduces anxiety

18. Coping with Social Inhibition
Stress management techniques
Mental Rehearsal
Selective attention- Refined process
Lowering incentive value of situation/outcome
Training with presence of audience