Stress and Stress Management Miss Campbell A2 Psychology in Sport

Stress The term stress is often used to describe the negative feelings a person experiences when placed in a potentially threatening situation. The term stress is often used to describe the negative feelings a person experiences when placed in a potentially threatening situation. A clear distinction must be made between positive stress and negative stress. A clear distinction must be made between positive stress and negative stress.

Definitions: Seyle (1956): The non-specific response of the body to any demand made on it. Seyle (1956): The non-specific response of the body to any demand made on it. If we are placed in a situation in which we feel pressurised, unable to meet the task or worried about the consequences, we may experience a stress reaction. This may differ from one person to another. If we are placed in a situation in which we feel pressurised, unable to meet the task or worried about the consequences, we may experience a stress reaction. This may differ from one person to another.

Stress COACHES NEED TO KNOW THAT EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT AND THEREFORE THEY NEED TO KNOW A RANGE OF SPECIFIC STARTEGIES TO HELP THEM COPE. COACHES NEED TO KNOW THAT EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT AND THEREFORE THEY NEED TO KNOW A RANGE OF SPECIFIC STARTEGIES TO HELP THEM COPE.

The Stress Experience Initiated by a stressor – can be positive or negative. Initiated by a stressor – can be positive or negative. Eustress – positive form of stress. Eustress – positive form of stress. Anxiety – negative form of stress. These can be in the form of cognitive response or somatic response. Anxiety – negative form of stress. These can be in the form of cognitive response or somatic response. What are they? What are they?

McGrath’s Stress Process When people are placed in a stressful situation, they progress through four stages. When people are placed in a stressful situation, they progress through four stages. 1) Environmental Demands 1) Environmental Demands 2) Perception of the demands 2) Perception of the demands 3) Stress Response 3) Stress Response 4) Behaviour 4) Behaviour

McGrath’s Stress Process Please draw the Stress Process loop from page 154. Please draw the Stress Process loop from page 154.

McGrath’s Stress Process Environmental demands: Involves individual having to cope with physical or psychological demand. E.g. difficult skill performed in front of a large crowd.

McGrath’s Stress Process Perception of the demands: Individual then makes a judgement about the specific requirements and ability to deal with them. E.g anxiety if performer has never performed in front of a large crowd.

McGrath’s Stress Process Stress Response Individual experiences a specific reaction. E.g. Performer becomes apprehensive, worries about failure and doubts ability to complete task.

McGrath’s Stress Process Behaviour: Performer attempts the skill. Performer’s behaviour will often reflect psychological attitude to the task. E.G. Performer is worried and therefore suffers poor selective attention, causing them to execute skill poorly.

Causes of Stress Please complete the table from page 155. Please complete task 1 from page 155.

Stress response: General Adaptation Syndrome Seyle (1956): When stress is experienced, body responds in a similar physiological manner. This is known as GAS. There are three stages of GAS. Seyle (1956): When stress is experienced, body responds in a similar physiological manner. This is known as GAS. There are three stages of GAS. 1) Alarm Reaction Stage 1) Alarm Reaction Stage 2) Resistance Stage 2) Resistance Stage 3) Exhaustion Stage 3) Exhaustion Stage

Task Draw the GAS Stress response diagram with labels from page 155. Draw the GAS Stress response diagram with labels from page 155.