Anxiety and Arousal
Arousal
Arousal is a state of mental
and physical preparedness
for action
(Davis, Bull, Roscoe & Roscoe, 2000)
Continuum
Our arousal levels range from deep
sleep to intense excitement.
During the day our level fluctuates
depending on the situation we are in.
The relationship between arousal and performance can be
complicated. While one person may be ‘psyched up’ for the
challenge of competition another ‘chokes’ and performs far
below expectations.
As a sports athlete you need to learn to control arousal. You
should be able to increase arousal when feeling lethargic and
decrease it when the pressure causes nervousness and anxiety.
It is the better athletes who are able to control arousal when
they perform in anxiety provoking games.
Symptoms
Physical (physiological) – fluctuations in
heart rate, sweating, breathing,
butterflies in the stomach.
Cognitive (psychological) – fluctuations
in concentration, worry and effective
decision making.
Arousal and Performance
Drive Theory states that as arousal increases so does the
dominant habit.
Tip: think of a ‘closed skill’ e.g. A tennis serve.
If you have learnt that skill so it is very stable and enduring (long lasting) then in
high pressure situations e.g. serving for the championship you will be able to
serve very well. However if you have not learnt how to serve very well then the
pressure will have an even more adverse effect on your serve.
DRIVE THEORY
Dominant
Habit
Arousal
Inverted U Theory
The Drive Theory does not explain why some
sporting performances improve and some decline in
different circumstances.
The Inverted U Theory states that arousal must be at
an ‘optimal level’ for peak performance. If arousal is
too low then the athlete must ‘psych’ themselves up
and if arousal becomes too high it turns to ANXIETY.
Inverted U Theory
High
Performance
Low
Optimal Arousal
Arousal
Individual Differences
Many theorists believe the Inverted U Theory is too
simplistic and therefore we all have a different
‘optimal’ level of arousal.
This level will change depending on the task (simple
or complex), the personality of the athlete (introvert or
extrovert) and the stage of learning (cognitive or
autonomous)
Anxiety
Anxiety is an emotional state, similar to
fear, associated with physiological and
psychological arousal and with feeling
of nervousness and apprehension.
Davis, Bull, Roscoe & Roscoe, 2000
Task
3 pupils of varying
personality come to the front
of the class please!
You will be competing for the
grand prize of £1!
Class - your job is to create
an intense, electric sporting
arena for them to compete
in! Who are you cheering
on?
Task
The competition can vary depending on
the facilities available,
 Basketball free throw
 Golf putting
 Left handed target throwing
 Football keep ups
 Hockey penalties
Discuss
Interview the contestants in a ‘Match of the
Day’ style!
1. How did you feel competing in front of the rest of the class?
2. Are you generally a nervous person in most situations?
3. Physiological symptoms?
4. Psychological symptoms?
Key Terms
Using the quotes in the interview and the definitions
in your text books, provide examples of the
following;
STATE ANXIETY, TRAIT ANXIETY,
COGNITIVE ANXIETY, SOMATIC ANXIETY
Happens to the best of us!
Professional sport is highly competitive and as a result produces huge
amounts of pressure for the athlete.
This pressure can cause anxiety and have dramatic effects on
performance – even professional sportsmen!
Jean Van de Velde was 3 shots in the lead standing on the last tee of
the British Golf Open and poised to win his first ‘major’.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dR1pkCGY80
SCAT Test
Martens (1977) developed the Sport
Competition Anxiety Test (SCAT)
This measures your level of anxiety in a
sporting situation.
Have a go http://www.brianmac.co.uk/scatform.pdf
Task
Research other sporting examples where pressure
has seemed to have a negative impact on the
athletes sporting performance.
What reasons did they provide in post match
interviews? Could you see any physiology symptoms
during the performance?
Exam Question
With reference to sporting performance,
explain how cognitive and somatic
anxiety differ.
(Total 5 marks)
Exam Answers
Must use sporting example
Max 4 marks from:
1.
Cognitive anxiety is psychological response/worry/inability to
concentrate/loss of attention/fear of failure.
2.
E.g. worry that tennis opponent is a much better player than you.
3.
Somatic anxiety is a physiological response.
4.
E.g. increased heart rate/adrenaline/‘butterflies’/sweaty palms
before the tennis match begins.
Max 2 marks from:
5.
6.
7.
8.
Cognitive may remain high during performance.
The more you worry, the bigger the drop in performance.
Somatic should reduce once performance begins.
Effects of somatic similar to inverted ‘U’.
References
Davis, Bull, Roscoe & Roscoe (2000) Physical Education and the Study
of Sport
Martens (1977) Sport Competition Anxiety Test. Human Kinetics
www.brianmac.co.uk
www.youtube.com