Arousal,Stress, and

Anxiety

Arousal,Stress, and

Anxiety

Is Arousal the Same as Anxiety?

Arousal =

Anxiety =

Defining Arousal, Stress, and Anxiety

Trait

States

Measuring Arousal and Anxiety

Physiological signs (heart rate, respiration, skin conductance, biochemistry)

Global and multidimensional self-report surveys

e.g. Sport Anxiety Scale (trait anxiety)e.g. Sport Competition Anxiety Test (trait)e.g. Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2

Trait and StateAnxiety Relationship

High versus low trait anxious people usually have more state anxiety in highly evaluative situations.

Stress and the Stress Process

Define Stress:

(continued)

The Stress Process

Stage 1

Stage 2

Stage 3

Stage 4

Stress and Stress Process Implications

In what stages of the stress process can we intervene?

How is stress best viewed?

Sources of Stress and Anxiety

____________

____________

____________

Situationalsources

Personal sources

____________Other? _____________

____________Other?_____________

How Arousal and AnxietyAffect Performance

Drive theory

Inverted–U hypothesis

Individualized zones of optimal functioning

Multidimensional anxiety theory

How Arousal and AnxietyAffect Performance

Catastrophe model

Reversal theory

Anxiety direction and intensity

Significance of all these views

Drive Theory

Inverted–U Hypothesis

Individualized Zones of Optimal Functioning (IZOF) Hypothesis

Catastrophe Model

Catastrophe Model

Reversal TheoryHow arousal affects performance depends on an individual’s interpretation of his or her arousal level; assumption =performers can flip quickly

Arousal can be interpreted as pleasant/excitement or as unpleasant/anxiety.

Arousal interpreted as pleasant facilitates performance, and arousal interpreted as unpleasant hurts performance.

Anxiety Direction and Intensity

An individual’s _____________of anxiety symptoms is important for understanding the anxiety-performance relationship.

Both the ______________________ (how much anxiety one feels) and __________________________ (one’s interpretation of anxiety as being facilitating or debilitating to performance) must be considered.

(continued)

Anxiety Direction and Intensity

Viewing anxiety as facilitative leads to superior performance.

Some support has been found for this view.

Significance of All the Arousal–Performance Views

**Arousal is multifaceted**

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Significance of All the Arousal–Performance Views

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Why Arousal and AnxietyInfluence Performance

Increased muscle tension and coordination difficulties

Attention and concentration changes:

-

-

-

Why Arousal Influences Performance

Attentional narrowing

Implications for PracticeInteractional Model of Anxiety

Implications for PracticeRecognize arousal and state anxiety signs (feeling ill, dazed,muscle tension etc.)

Tailor coaching strategies to individuals:

Different strokes for different folks.

Sometimes arousal and state anxiety must be reduced, other times maintained, and other times facilitated.

Develop performers’ confidence.

Recognize Symptoms of Arousal and State Anxiety

Cold, clammy hands

Constant need to urinate

Profuse sweating

Negative self-talk

Dazed look in eyes

(continued)

Cotton (dry) mouth

Constantly sick

Difficulties sleeping

Recognize Symptoms of Arousal and State Anxiety

Feel ill

Headache

(continued)

Recognize Symptoms of Arousal and State Anxiety

Increased muscle tension

Butterflies in stomach

Inability to concentrate

Consistently perform better in non-evaluative situations

Others? _______________________