Arousal and Performance: Drive Theory, Inverted-U Theory, and IZOF
Stress in Sport
Definition
Stress
Humans retain an evolutionary stress response similar to animals, activating the sympathetic nervous system in threatening situations. This fight-or-flight reaction increases heart rate and releases epinephrine (adrenaline) to mobilize energy for action.
- Stress is the body’s response to demands or pressures placed on an athlete. It can be physical (fatigue, injury) or psychological (pressure, expectations).
- The sympathetic nervous system triggers a fight-or-flight response in dangerous situations. Physiological changes include:
- Increased heart rate for oxygen transport.
- Epinephrine (adrenaline) release, promoting energy availability (glycogen breakdown).
- Types of Stress:
- Eustress (Positive Stress):
- Enhances focus, motivation, and performance.
- Distress (Negative Stress):
- Causes anxiety, reduced confidence, and impaired decision-making.
- Eustress (Positive Stress):
- Eustress Example:
- A sprinter feeling slightly nervous before a race, leading to heightened concentration.
- Distress Example
- A golfer struggling to putt due to excessive nerves.
| Category of Stress | Description |
|---|---|
| Time-Limited "Voluntary" Stress | Occurs in non-critical situations, such as amateur-level competitions, where participation is for enjoyment and does not significantly impact other aspects of life. |
| Time-Limited "Compulsory" Stress | Involves high-stakes situations like selection events for academies or sports scholarships, where individuals feel pressured to perform well to achieve a future goal. |
| Stressful Event Sequences | A series of interconnected stressors, such as relocating to a new place, which involves moving homes, changing schools, losing friends, and adapting to a new environment. |
| Chronic Stress | Long-term stressors like persistent illness or overtraining, which affect daily life with no clear endpoint. |
| Distant Stressors | Past traumatic experiences that continue to influence emotional and psychological responses in the present. |
Take a blank sheet of paper and list all the changes you experienced during a time-limited stressor. Consider how your behavior, emotions, physical symptoms, and thoughts were affected.
Sources of Stress in Sport:
Internal Factors:
- Fear of failure, lack of confidence, self-doubt.
- External Factors:
- Expectations from coaches, spectators, media, or high-stakes competition.
Effects of Stress on Performance:
- Can improve performance when managed correctly (eustress).
- Can decrease performance when excessive (distress).
- Can lead to physical symptoms (muscle tension, increased heart rate) and mental symptoms (difficulty focusing, negative thinking).
Managing Stress and Arousal for Optimal Performance
Athletes and coaches can use psychological techniques to control stress and arousal levels.
Techniques to Reduce Stress and Overarousal:
- Deep Breathing: Slows heart rate and reduces tension.
- Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR): Relieves stress-induced muscle tightness.
- Mindfulness & Meditation: Helps maintain focus and reduce negative thoughts.
- Cognitive Restructuring: Reframing pressure as a challenge instead of a threat.
- Pre-Performance Routines: Establishing a consistent mental and physical warm-up.
Techniques to Increase Arousal:
- High-Energy Music: Increases motivation and alertness.
- Pre-Game Pep Talks: Boosts confidence and mental readiness.
- Visualization: Imagining success to increase excitement and engagement.
- Physical Warm-Up: Elevates heart rate and activates muscles.
- Ethical Principles in Research with Human Participants
- Declaration of Helsinki (1964)
- Established by the World Medical Association to ensure ethical standards in medical research.
- Protects human participants' rights by emphasizing careful consideration and protection.
- Modern research, medical or non-medical, follows similar ethical principles.
- Key Considerations for Ethical Research
- Inducing stress in participants must align with ethical principles.
- Key ethical questions:
- Is researching stress ethical?
- How can participants be protected?
- What restrictions should be placed on advancing knowledge?
- Declaration of Helsinki (1964)
Arousal
Definition
Arousal
Arousal refers to the level of physiological and psychological activation an athlete experiences. It ranges from low (relaxed) to high (intense excitement or stress).
