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Arousal
Arousal
Sport Performance
AROUSAL
What is arousal?
Mind
Faster processing of
information, heightened
alertness, may lead to
confused thinking
Body
Increased heart rate and skin
conductance (sweaty palms)
Behaviour
Pacing, fidgeting, etc.
Measuring Arousal 1
Physiological measures
are best
Electroencephalogram
(EEG)
brain-wave activity
Electrocardiogram
(ECG)
heart rate
Elecromyogram (EMG)
muscular tension
Measuring Arousal 2
Galvanic skin response
minute perspiration on
fingertips
Sudorimeter
heat stress through
sweating
Also, measuring chemical
traces of arousal
Eg. adrenalin in urine
samples
Inverted-u Theory 1
The YerkesDodson Law
Arousal
improves
performance
up to a point
[OPTIMAL
LEVEL]
then
performance
drops off
Links to Personality
Arousal is controlled by
the Autonomic Nervous
System
Responsible for
Stability/Neuroticism
Hans Eysenck (1965)
Stable personalities
handle arousal well
Neurotics have low
optimal levels easily
over aroused
Response Patterning 1
Husband-and-wife team
John & Bea Lacey
Studied how stress affects
the brain looking for
stress-based personality
types
Measuring heart rate
(ECG), palm sweat (GSR)
and brain voltage (EEG)
Some evidence that
autonomic response is an
individual trait but
Response Patterning 2
also depends on the
type of stimulus
(SITUATION)
Eg psychological
challenges (puzzles) vs
physical challenges
(exercise)
INTERACTIONIST
No such thing as general
arousal
Response Patterning 3
Everyone has a unique response to
stress, based on biology & situation
Lacey calls this RESPONSE PATTERNING
1. AUTONOMIC AROUSAL goes on in the
body (hormones, heart rate,
perspiration)
2. ELECTROCORTICAL AROUSAL goes on
in the brain (EEG)
3. BEHAVIOURAL AROUSAL can be
observed (performance, fidgeting,
trembling)
Inverted-u Theory 2
Not all sports
have same
link between
arousal &
performance
EG golf
involves fine
motor skills
best if arousal
is low
Oxendine
(1970)
Oxendines Scale
5 (extreme arousal)
Rugby scrum, 400m sprint, weight-lifting
4 Long jump, middle distance running,
swimming, judo
3 Basketball, boxing, soccer, gymnastics
2 Baseball, fencing, tennis, golf driving
1 (slight arousal)
Archery, bowling, golf putting