Defining Arousal, Stress, and Anxiety States Trait

Stage 1 The Stress Process Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 4

Sources of Stress and Anxiety Event importance Situational sources Uncertainty Trait anxiety Personal sources Self-esteem Social physique anxiety

Drive Theory

Inverted–U Hypothesis

Individualized Zones of Optimal Functioning (IZOF) Theory

Catastrophe Model

Catastrophe Model

Reversal Theory How arousal affects performance depends on an individual’s interpretation of his or her arousal level. Arousal can be interpreted as pleasant/excitement or as unpleasant/anxiety. Arousal interpreted as pleasant facilitates performance, and arousal interpreted as unpleasant hurts performance.

Anxiety Direction and Intensity An individual’s interpretation of anxiety symptoms is important for understanding the anxiety-performance relationship. To understand the anxiety-performance relationship, both the intensity (how much anxiety one feels) and direction (a person’s interpretation of anxiety as being facilitating or debilitating to performance) must be considered. (continued)

Anxiety Direction and Intensity Viewing anxiety as facilitative leads to superior performance. Some support has been found for this view.

Significance of All the Arousal–Performance Views Significance of All the Arousal–Performance Views **Arousal is multifaceted** Arousal and state anxiety do not always have a negative effect on performance— they can be facilitative or debilitative depending on the interpretation. Some optimal level of arousal leads to peak performance, but the optimal levels of physiological activation and arousal-related thoughts (worry) are not the same. (continued)

Significance of All the Arousal–Performance Views Combination of a.) physiological arousal and b.) arousal interpretation are more important than actual levels of each. It is doubtful that the optimal level of arousal is always at the midpoint of the arousal scale.

Why Arousal and Anxiety Influence Performance Increased muscle tension and coordination difficulties Attention and concentration changes: Narrowing of attention Shift to dominant style Attend to inappropriate cues

Why Arousal Influences Performance Attentional narrowing

The Flow Model Essential elements of flow Complete absorption in the activity Merging of action and awareness; performance is on automatic pilot Total concentration, focus High confidence (continued)

The Flow Model Essential elements of flow Loss of self-consciousness; no thinking about performance A sense of control, and loss of fear/anxiety No goals or rewards external to the activity Effortless movement, performance Slowing of time, motion

The Typical Context of Flow A balance of skill and challenge