Arousal

1. Arousal Theories of arousal and the consequences

2. Arousal is a blend of physiological and psychological activity in a person, and it refers to the intensity dimensions of motivation at a particular moment. The intensity of arousal falls on a continuum ranging from not aroused at all to completely aroused. Aroused = mental and physical activation, increased heart rates, respiration and sweating.

3. Drive theory • Research by Hull (1943) and Spence and Spence (1966). • A proportional linear relationship between arousal and performance. • The more a sports person was aroused the better their performance OR P= H X D. • Hull thought drive was synonymous with arousal. The habit strength was a learned behaviour/ dominant response which occurred more often as drive levels increased.

4. Problems with Drive theory • The habitual behaviour/ dominant response is not always the correct one (think of beginners) • By increasing drive (arousal) performers often resort to previously learned skills because they are dominant but may be incorrect. • In later stages of learning increased drive (arousal) would have a positive effect because the dominant response is well learned. • Even highly skilled players ‘choke’ in highly charged situations. • Is it possible that in low arousal/ stress situations players will not perform well, but in highly aroused situations, players will get increasingly better?

5. Inverted ‘U’ theory • Yerkes and Dodson (1908) • At low levels of arousal, performance will be below par, the athlete is not psyched up. • As arousal increases so does performance, up to an optimal point. After this point, further increases in arousal lead to declines in performance. • Each athlete has their own optimal level of arousal. • Optimal arousal is higher for more simple tasks and lower for more complex tasks.

6. Problems with inverted ‘U’ theory • Most athletes and coaches can relate to this theory. • Critics question if optimal arousal always occurs at the mid-point of the curve. • One curve does not explain the different optimal levels of arousal needed for simple and complex tasks.

7. Catastrophe Model • Hardy and Frazey (1987) • Physiological arousal is related to performance in an inverted ‘U’ fashion when the athlete is not worried or has low cognitive anxiety state anxiety. • If cognitive anxiety is high, the increases in arousal pass a point of optimal arousal and a rapid decline in performance occurs (the catastrophe). • It would be very difficult to recover from this point.