Theories of Arousal Flashcards

Questions and Answers

Define drive theory.

A theory of arousal that proposes a linear relationship between arousal and performance - as arousal increases so does the quality of performance.

Which of the following are characteristics of drive theory? (Select all that apply)

High arousal always leads to better performance for all athletes

More a beginner person is aroused, the dominant response may be correct

More an elite person is aroused, the better their performance due to dominant response being chosen habitual (correct)

High levels of arousal can cause deterioration in performance for beginners (correct)

Which of the following are problems with drive theory? (Select all that apply)

It applies universally to all skill levels

Highly skilled athletes can choke in high stress situations (correct)

Increasing drive always leads to optimal performance

Habitual behavior / dominant response is not always the correct one (correct)

What is the Inverted U theory?

A theory of arousal that considers that optimal performance occurs when the performer reaches an optimal level of arousal. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following are characteristics of Inverted U theory? (Select all that apply)

Optimal level of arousal is determined through observations of performance Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following are problems with Inverted U theory? (Select all that apply)

Critics question if the optimal arousal level always occurs at the midpoint Signup and view all the answers

Define catastrophe theory.

A theory that predicts a rapid decline in performance resulting from a combination of high somatic anxiety and high cognitive anxiety. Signup and view all the answers

What does Point A on the catastrophe theory diagram indicate?

Cognitive anxiety is high and somatic anxiety is low; performance is enhanced. Signup and view all the answers

What does Point B on the catastrophe theory diagram indicate?

Cognitive anxiety is high and somatic anxiety is high. Performance can deteriorate. Signup and view all the answers

What does Point C on the catastrophe theory diagram indicate?

Performance continues to deteriorate. Signup and view all the answers

What does Point D on the catastrophe theory diagram indicate?

Performance can gradually return to the original level but not immediately as long as the performer is trying to decrease arousal levels. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Drive Theory

Proposes a direct, linear relationship between arousal and performance; higher arousal leads to better performance (Hull, 1943).
Elite performers benefit from increased arousal as their dominant responses are habitual and effective.
Beginners may struggle with high arousal as their dominant responses might be incorrect, leading to performance deterioration.
Excessive arousal can hinder beginners' ability to concentrate.

Problems with Drive Theory

The notion that habitual behavior is always correct is flawed, particularly for cognitive learners who may not exhibit dominant responses.
Increasing drive can lead performers to rely on bad habits instead of previously learned skills.
Even highly skilled athletes can face performance issues under pressure, as illustrated by Federer missing a key serve at Wimbledon.

Inverted U Theory

Suggests optimal performance is achieved at an ideal level of arousal (Yerkes and Dodson, 1908).
Performance is suboptimal at low arousal levels due to lack of motivation (athlete not "psyched up").
Performance improves with increasing arousal until reaching the optimal level.
Beyond this optimal level, further arousal results in a decline in performance.
Each athlete has a unique optimal arousal level for peak performance.

Problems with Inverted U Theory

Critics challenge the idea that optimal arousal consistently occurs at the midpoint of the curve.
The theory fails to differentiate between the optimal arousal levels required for simple versus complex tasks.

Catastrophe Theory

Predicts a significant drop in performance when both somatic and cognitive anxiety levels are high (Frazey and Hardy, 1987).

Catastrophe Theory Diagram Points

Point A: High cognitive anxiety, low somatic anxiety; performance is improved.
Point B: High levels of both cognitive and somatic anxiety; potential for performance deterioration.
Point C: Continued decline in performance under high anxiety conditions.
Point D: Gradual return to original performance levels possible, but not immediately, as long as the performer is actively trying to reduce arousal.

Description

Explore the key concepts of drive theory and its characteristics through these flashcards. Understand the linear relationship between arousal and performance as proposed by Hull in 1943. Perfect for psychology students looking to deepen their knowledge on arousal theories.