Overview
This lecture covers the definitions, causes, and effects of arousal, stress, and anxiety in sports and exercise, with a focus on how these states influence athletic performance.
Key Concepts: Arousal, Stress, and Anxiety
- Arousal is a blend of psychological and physiological activation ranging from deep sleep to intense excitement.
- Stress is a substantial imbalance between demands and response capability with significant consequences for failure.
- Anxiety is a negative emotional state with worry or nervousness, linked to activation of the body.
- Arousal is not inherently pleasant or unpleasant; anxiety is typically seen as negative but can have positive effects.
Types of Anxiety
- Trait anxiety is a stable personality characteristic predisposing individuals to perceive situations as threatening.
- State anxiety is a temporary, changing emotional state marked by nervousness and apprehension.
- Cognitive state anxiety involves negative thoughts and worry.
- Somatic state anxiety refers to perceived physiological activation.
- Perceived control over anxiety influences whether it's seen as helpful or harmful to performance.
Measuring Anxiety and Arousal
- Arousal and anxiety can be measured physiologically (heart rate, respiration, biochemistry) and through self-report scales.
Stress Process
- Stress process includes: environmental demand, perception of demand, stress response, and behavioral consequences.
- Interventions can target any stage of this process to manage stress.
Theories on Arousal, Anxiety, and Performance
- Drive Theory: Higher arousal leads to better performance, but lacks empirical support.
- Inverted U Hypothesis: Performance peaks at optimal arousal, then declines with over-arousal.
- Individualized Zones of Optimal Functioning (IZOF): Optimal anxiety range varies by individual.
- Multidimensional Anxiety Theory: Cognitive anxiety negatively affects performance; somatic anxiety follows an inverted U pattern.
- Catastrophe Model: High arousal plus high cognitive anxiety can cause sharp performance drops.
- Reversal Theory: The impact of arousal depends on individual perception (pleasant vs. unpleasant).
- Anxiety’s effect on performance depends on whether it’s seen as facilitative (helpful) or debilitative (harmful).
Effects and Implications
- Increased arousal can increase muscle tension and coordination problems.
- Attention narrows with higher arousal, possibly causing “tunnel vision.”
- Optimal arousal and anxiety levels are individual and task-specific.
- Coaches should tailor strategies to individual needs and monitor symptoms of anxiety.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Arousal — Level of psychological and physiological activation.
- Stress — Imbalance between demands and one’s ability to respond.
- Anxiety — Negative emotional state with worry and nervousness.
- Trait Anxiety — Personality trait leading to frequent perceptions of threat.
- State Anxiety — Temporary feeling of nervousness or tension.
- Cognitive State Anxiety — Negative thoughts and worry about performance.
- Somatic State Anxiety — Physical symptoms of anxiety.
- Eustress — Beneficial, moderate stress.
- Distress — Harmful, extreme stress.
- General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) — Alarm, resistance, and exhaustion stages in response to stress.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review symptoms and signs of increased arousal, stress, and anxiety.
- Practice self-reflection to recognize personal and situational factors influencing your anxiety and arousal.
- Prepare for upcoming discussion on stress management strategies.