Arousal,
Stress, and
Anxiety
Is Arousal the Same as
Anxiety?
Arousal is a general physiological
and psychological activation,
varying in intensity along a
continuum. Anxiety is a negative
emotional state with feelings of
worry, nervousness, and
apprehension associated with
activation of the body.
Defining Arousal,
Stress, and
Anxiety
Trait
States
Measuring Arousal
and Anxiety
Physiological signs (heart rate,
respiration, skin conductance,
biochemistry)
Global and multidimensional
self-report surveys
e.g. Sport Anxiety Scale (trait anxiety)
e.g. Sport Competition Anxiety Test (trait)
e.g. Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2
Trait and State
Anxiety Relationship
High versus low trait anxious people
usually have more state anxiety in
highly evaluative situations.
Stress and
the Stress Process
Stress: A substantial imbalance between
physical and psychological demands
placed on an individual and his or her
response capability under conditions
where failure to meet demands has
important consequences.
(continued)
The
Stress
Process
Stage 1
Stage 2
Stage 3
Stage 4
Stress and Stress Process Implications
Intervene during any of the
four stages of the stress process
or cycle.
Viewing stress as a process, not a
discrete entity
Sources of Stress
and Anxiety
Situational
sources
Event importance
Uncertainty
Trait anxiety
Personal sources
Self-esteem
Social physique anxiety
How Arousal and Anxiety
Affect Performance
Drive theory
Inverted–U hypothesis
Individualized zones
of optimal functioning
Multidimensional anxiety theory
How Arousal and Anxiety
Affect Performance
Catastrophe model
Reversal theory
Anxiety direction
and intensity
Significance of
all these views
Drive Theory
Inverted–U Hypothesis
Individualized Zones
of Optimal Functioning (IZOF) Hypothesis
Catastrophe Model
Catastrophe Model
Reversal Theory
How arousal affects performance
depends on an individual’s
interpretation of his or her arousal level.
Arousal can be interpreted as
pleasant/excitement or as
unpleasant/anxiety.
Arousal interpreted as pleasant
facilitates performance, and arousal
interpreted as unpleasant hurts
performance.
Anxiety Direction
and Intensity
An individual’s interpretation of anxiety
symptoms is important for understanding
the anxiety-performance relationship.
To understand the anxiety-performance
relationship, both the intensity (how
much anxiety one feels) and direction
(a person’s interpretation of anxiety as
being facilitating or debilitating to
performance) must be considered.
(continued)
Anxiety Direction
and Intensity
Viewing anxiety as facilitative leads
to superior performance.
Some support has been found
for this view.
Significance of All the Arousal–Performance
Views
**Arousal is multifaceted**
Arousal and state anxiety do not always
have a negative effect on performance—
they can be facilitative or debilitative
depending on the interpretation.
Some optimal level of arousal leads to
peak performance, but the optimal
levels of physiological activation and
arousal-related thoughts (worry) are
not the same.
(continued)
Significance of All the Arousal–Performance
Views
Combination of a.) physiological arousal
and b.) arousal interpretation are more
important than actual levels of each.
It is doubtful that the optimal level of
arousal is always at the midpoint of the
arousal scale.
Why Arousal and Anxiety
Influence Performance
Increased muscle tension and
coordination difficulties
Attention and concentration changes:
Narrowing of attention
Shift to dominant style
Attend to inappropriate cues
Why Arousal
Influences
Performance
Attentional narrowing
Implications for Practice
Identify optimal combinations of
arousal-related emotions needed for
best performance.
Recognize how personal and situational
factors interact to influence arousal,
anxiety, and performance.
Implications for Practice
Interactional Model of Anxiety
Implications for Practice
Recognize arousal and state
anxiety signs (feeling ill, dazed,muscle
tension etc.)
Tailor coaching strategies to individuals:
Different strokes for different folks.
Sometimes arousal and state anxiety
must be reduced, other times
maintained, and other times facilitated.
Develop performers’ confidence.
Recognize Symptoms of Arousal and State
Anxiety
Cold, clammy hands
Constant need to urinate
Profuse sweating
Negative self-talk
Dazed look in eyes
(continued)
Recognize Symptoms of Arousal and State
Anxiety
Feel ill
Headache
Cotton (dry) mouth
Constantly sick
Difficulties sleeping
(continued)
Recognize Symptoms of Arousal and State
Anxiety
Increased muscle tension
Butterflies in stomach
Inability to concentrate
Consistently perform better in
nonevaluative situations