Zone of Optimal Functioning

Peak flow experience

Catastraphe Theory

States that .......

Stress and anxiety will influence performance

Each athlete will respond in a unique way to competitive anxiety

Performance will be effected in a unique way which may be difficult to predict using general rules

Inverted U-Graph

This diagram states that arousal can be both positive and negative. When are less aroused performance is worse, and when we become to aroused pur performance is negativley effected. But is when our arousal levels are medium, that we peform best. This suggests that is a positive element but is we let it spiral out of our control it can have negative impact.

Its similar to 'caring' out your sport. If you do not care enough you will not perform to your best. Also if you care to much you may make rash decisions.

What it can do

Players when players score a goal they produce adrenalin, this leads them to

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/spl/aberdeen/2009/11/22/mark-mcghee-decision-to-send-off-gary-mcdonald-for-goal-celebration-was-shocking-86908-21841044/

Does it aid us or harm us?

The real answer to this question is dependant on the person and what sport they do.

Some performers can cope with levels of pressure and hold their nerve. But sometimes this arousal can lead to negative performances in which the performer can not cope with the added pressure.

The type of sport is also important. In contact sports such as Rugby, arousal is a good thing as the performer can positivley channel this into improving their performance. For example making an explosive tackle on your opponent, with extra force than normally. Rugby can be hindered by excessive arousal. It could cause you to attempt a tackle that would lead you stepping out of your defensive line and leaving a gap for an opponent to exploit.

In football over arousal has led to many players being dismissed, players may use excessive force and potentially causing a serious injury. But it can have a positive effect. For example Roberto Di Matteo, in the FA cup final went out and scored the fastest goal in Fa cup history. This could be put down to talent but no doubt that he was pumped up for the game in the early stages and went out and showed it.

Other sports like darts and snooker, require low levels of arousal, beecause performers need to be relaxed and steady as their sports require specific technical skills. If a snooker player is to pumped up it could lead them to hit a shot too hard or make decisions that they would not normally make.

What is Arousal?

As this is a something I studied in terms of sport, I had to start by actually defining what arousal is?

Arousal is a stimulation that causes a person to perform.

This then led me to think of my own personal experiences in sport. When have I been pumped up for a game of football? When has this led me to perform better? Maybe in a cup final, when you are really energetic and alive because you know that the game has extra meaning and importance. This can therefore give us that extra bit in the tank. To sprint for that ball in the last minute of the game were before we would have let the opponent take the ball.

Everyone one has heard the phrase 'I'm pumped up for this', this is an example of arousal but how do we gain this emotion? There are psychological elements aswell as physiological parts.

Welcome

This is my blog for A2 psychology. I am researching arousal in terms of sport and its affect on performance. This is an interesting topic to research as I have never beleived arousal could be incorperated into sport, but I am interested to learn about it.

Enjoy Reading

First of all I need to see what the specification says I need to cover.

Arousal
– drive, inverted U and catastrophe theories
– practical applications and impact on
performance
– Zone of Optimal Functioning and peak flow
experience.