Overview
This lecture explains the differences between arousal and anxiety, their effects on athletic performance, and how optimal arousal varies by skill level, sport, and task complexity.
Arousal and Anxiety: Definitions & Measures
- Arousal is a continuum of psychological activation, not inherently good or bad for performance.
- Arousal includes physiological signs (heart rate, sweating) and emotional states (excitement or fear).
- Anxiety is a negatively charged emotional state with internal discomfort and nervousness.
- Arousal and anxiety are related, but anxiety always includes arousal while arousal does not always mean anxiety.
Types of Anxiety
- State anxiety is temporary and depends on the situation.
- Cognitive state anxiety involves worry and emotional distress, causing decreased performance.
- Somatic state anxiety involves physical symptoms (rapid heart rate, sweating, upset stomach).
Physiological Mechanisms and Performance
- The autonomic nervous system controls involuntary bodily responses related to arousal and anxiety.
- Neurophysiological measures include heart rate, skin conductance, electromyography (muscle tension), and hormone levels (epinephrine, norepinephrine, cortisol).
Arousal, Anxiety, and Performance
- The Competitive State Anxiety Inventory (CSAI-2) measures state anxiety in athletes.
- Increased cognitive state anxiety consistently impairs performance.
- Somatic state anxiety can improve performance up to an optimal point, after which performance decreases—this forms the Inverted-U hypothesis.
- Optimal arousal level is sport- and individual-specific; too low or too high arousal reduces performance.
Skill Level and Task Complexity
- Less skilled athletes perform best with lower arousal; highly skilled athletes can handle and benefit from higher arousal.
- Simple, well-practiced tasks (dominant responses) are more likely to be performed under high arousal.
- Complex, unfamiliar tasks require more attention and suffer under high arousal.
Pressure, Stress, and Dominant Response
- Pressure comes from high incentives for success.
- Stress response includes increased hormones, blood pressure, and heart rate to prepare the body for action.
- Under high arousal or stress, athletes default to their dominant (most practiced) response, especially for simple tasks.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Arousal — a range of psychological and physiological activation.
- Anxiety — negative emotional state with nervousness and discomfort.
- State Anxiety — temporary, situation-dependent anxiety.
- Cognitive State Anxiety — worry and distress affecting performance.
- Somatic State Anxiety — physical symptoms of anxiety.
- Inverted-U Hypothesis — performance is best at moderate arousal.
- Dominant Response — the most practiced or natural action in high-stress situations.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review the Inverted-U hypothesis graph and examples for different sports.
- Prepare notes on how arousal/skill/task complexity interact for next class.