Emotional Control and IZOF.

Mr P. Leighton Mental Preparation for Physical Activities. Sports Psychology

Arousal
What is Arousal then? Arousal is a combination of PHYSIOLOGICAL and PSYCHOLOGICAL excitement or ACTIVATION. The intensity of arousal determines the responsiveness or direction of the behaviour i.e. dominant responses. It is also associated with the CUE UTILISATION and INVERTED U THEORYHow?

What Influences Arousal?

Arousal is never the same for any 2 individuals. 3 Variables intervene and cause variations to optimal performance. 1. Personality. 2. Complexity of Task. 3. Level of Ability.

Personality
Extroverts perform best at _____ optimal arousal level. An introverted personality type, in contrast, performs better at _____ optimal arousal point. Introverts have a very sensitive RAS. Conclusion?

Complexity of Task
Simple tasks such as shot putt tend to be gross, habitual and have a wide margin for error. Tasks are best performed when the performer has a high optimal threshold of arousal- further to go. Complex tasks are often more perceptual, manipulative and have less room for error i.e. spin bowling.

Level of Ability
An expert athlete (autonomous) would find a high level of arousal beneficial to performance. Those at novice (cognitive or associative) who need to concentrate on basic movements, would require a low level of arousal if they are to continue to learn.

Performance and Arousal

The unbroken line represents low optimal arousal required for one, all or a combination of the following variables
High complexity Low ability Introversion

The broken line represents high optimal arousal required for one, all or a combination of the following variables
Low complexity High ability Extroversion

Anxiety and Performance

The relationship between anxiety and sport performance is extremely important. What is Anxiety then? ANXIETY is a NEGATIVE emotional state associated with WORRY associated with ACTIVATION or AROUSAL. What is the difference between ANXIETY and AROUSAL?

2 forms of ANXIETY
COGNITIVE ANXIETY: the thought component of anxiety. It is associated with worry, apprehension and fear of negative evaluation of performance. SOMATIC ANXIETY: the physical component and is associated with increased HR and BP. Somatic anxiety is triggered by cognitive anxiety.

Question
How can we link CATASTROPHE THEORY into levels of AROUSAL? (3)
High cognitive arousal coincides with a somatic arousal level past optimal level, the performance of the individual drops sharply.

STATE and TRAIT anxiety

This relates to the stability of anxiety STATE ANXIETY: a persons immediate condition of anxiety in ANY ONE SITUATION. TRAIT ANXIETY: is a general disposition to perceive situations as threatening. Trait anxiety is part of personality and is RELETIVELY STABLE. Trait anxiety determines the degree of state anxiety that is experienced.

STRESS
Stress is the trigger that stimulates and increases both ANXIETY and AROUSAL. This is when a performer reaches a challenge they feel they cannot cope with. i.e. a penalty in football. The penalty is deemed the stressor in that situation. There is also conflict, competition and frustration which are examples of stressors in sport.

STRESS and HEALTHY BALANCED LIFESTYLES

Long term stress can impede healthy balanced lifestyles. Short term stress and the subsequent onset of anxiety and arousal can, when controlled, be beneficial in sport. This is explained through the INDIVIDUAL ZONE OF OPTIMAL FUNCTIONING (IZOF).

IZOF
Hanin (1986) researched specifically the effect of anxiety on performance. Hanin proposed that people respond differently to anxiety. Hanin concluded that there is not a general relationship between ANXIETY and PERFORMANCE, though athletes have there own preferred level of anxiety.

Hanins Model of the IZOF

IZOF vs. INVERTED U vs. CATASTROPHE THEORY

As the facilitator of best performance, the preferred level of anxiety is not shown as a point or a threshold on either of the other theories- in IZOF it is presented as a band width.

Further Developments
Randle and Weinberg (1997) proposed that players in team sports have a preference for a lower IZOF than athletes competing in individual events.

PEAK FLOW
Csikszentmihalyi (1990) proposed that completion of skill is at optimum level when the performer is controlled and focused. This creates intrinsic reward, selffulfilment and happiness. This is a rarely experienced, holistic sensation known as PEAK FLOW

Continued
Martens (1992) PEAK FLOW is most likely to occur when HIGH SOMATIC AROUSAL coincides with LOW COGNITIVE ANXIETY. Other factors include
Anxiety Concentration Attention Style Confidence Goal Setting Environmental Conditions Leadership Group Cohesion

(This is on pg 261- table)

Work for you

Complete the ANXIETY MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES on pg 260 and the two tables on 261-262 relating to SOMATIC and COGNITIVE ANXIETY.

Thats it!!!
Next weeks lesson will take an exam tutorial basis- I will have 3 questions prepared to get you used to writing at length for 10, 20 or 30 mins. Well done for completing what is a difficult area of the course.