My full detailed notes on Arousal including a few practice questions answered. Including subtopics -
- Arousal
- Reticular Activating System
- Arousal and Drive Theory
- Inverted U Theory
- Arousal Curves
- Catastrophe Theory
- Task Differences
- Optimum Arousal
- Attention - selective at...
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Arousal
Arousal is the level of activation/excitation
RAS – Reticular Activating System, controls arousal, intensity, and direction.
Arousal
Arousal
- A state of mental and physical preparedness for action.
- This is the level of inner drives , which forces the sportsperson to strive
to achieve .
- It needs to be under control .
- It needs to be at the right level depending on the task .
- A faster heart rate
- Sweating
- Ability to focus (concentrate)
- Response to danger
Reticular Activating System
- RAS is a system within the brain which causes arousal.
- Extroverts have lower levels of intrinsic arousal than introverts.
- Hence extroverts seek situations of high arousal.
- Introverts seek low arousal situations.
Arousal and Drive Theory
Drive Theory
- The higher the arousal level, the higher the
achievement/performance level
- The higher the arousal level, the more likely that a well-learned skill
(a dominant response) will be produced.
With Increased Arousal
- The dominant habit /most usual behaviour will be reproduced .
- A poorly-learned skill will give a performance full of mistakes .
- A well-learned skill will give a skilled performance.
Inverted U Theory
Inverted U Theory
- There is an optimum arousal level.
- If aroused more than this performance will decline .
The Position of Optimum Arousal Depends On
- Gross skills (weightlifting) require high arousal.
- Fine skills (snooker) require low arousal.
- The more skilful the performer, the higher the optimum arousal could
be.
- The more extrovert the performer, the higher the arousal likely for
optimum performance.
, Arousal Curves
Best performance
- Sam’s performance has the highest level
Psyching Up
- Jon’s best performance takes place at the highest arousal level.
- He needs to psych himself up the most to achieve optimum performance.
Controlled Arousal
- Ted’s best performance takes place between a narrow range of arousal
levels.
- Therefore arousal needs to be carefully controlled .
Catastrophe Theory
Catastrophe Theory
- Here performance increases as arousal increases , but if arousal gets
too high , a complete loss of performance occurs.
- For example, the golfer who tries too hard and completely misses the
fairway from his drive at the 18th hole when in a winning position.
- For example, the gymnast who completely messes up her previously well-
executed routine national final.
- This tells us that anxiety affects arousal.
Task Differences
Optimum Arousal
- Can be identifi ed
- Can be controlled by successful performers
- Depends on circumstances and personalities
- Depends on whether tasks are simple or complex
- Depends on whether tasks are fi ne or gross
- Depends on whether tasks are strength or endurance
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