Post on 21-Dec-2015
Arousal & AnxietyArousal & Anxiety
Popular topic in sport researchPopular topic in sport research Early topic to be researchedEarly topic to be researched
Arousal DefinitionArousal Definition
Physiological activationPhysiological activation Autonomic reactivityAutonomic reactivity Fight or flight responseFight or flight response Physiological measures?Physiological measures?
Physiology of ArousalPhysiology of Arousal
Arousal levels directly related to autonomic Arousal levels directly related to autonomic nervous system (HR, BP, skin conductivity, nervous system (HR, BP, skin conductivity, and respiration)and respiration)
Two divisions: Sympathetic Two divisions: Sympathetic &Parasympathetic&Parasympathetic
Sympathetic Nervous SystemSympathetic Nervous System
Primarily responsible for body changes with Primarily responsible for body changes with arousal levelsarousal levels
Sweating hands, increased HR, increased Sweating hands, increased HR, increased respiration, release of glucose, respiration, release of glucose, catecholamine releasecatecholamine release
Works Works relativelyrelatively quickly, while quickly, while parasympathetic n.s. works parasympathetic n.s. works relativelyrelatively slowlyslowly
Brain MechanismsBrain Mechanisms
Activiation of higher order systems (CNS Activiation of higher order systems (CNS structures) occurs during arousalstructures) occurs during arousal
Cerebral Cortex - conscious thought Cerebral Cortex - conscious thought processes; desynchronized, fast, low processes; desynchronized, fast, low amplitude EEG readingsamplitude EEG readings
Hypothalamus - midbrain; electrical Hypothalamus - midbrain; electrical stimulation can increase stimulation can increase alertness/excitementalertness/excitement
Ascending Reticular Ascending Reticular Activating System (ARAS)Activating System (ARAS)
Closely associated with onset of arousalClosely associated with onset of arousal Organizes sensorimotor behaviorOrganizes sensorimotor behavior Ascending axons of ARAS stimulate higher Ascending axons of ARAS stimulate higher
brain center neuronsbrain center neurons Stimulation results in “awakened” EEG Stimulation results in “awakened” EEG
waves; lesions result in somnolencewaves; lesions result in somnolence Activiated in perceived threat situationsActiviated in perceived threat situations
Measures of Arousal LevelsMeasures of Arousal Levels
Electrocortical activityElectrocortical activity– ElectroencephalogramElectroencephalogram
Biochemical indicatorsBiochemical indicators– Release of catecholaminesRelease of catecholamines
Heart RateHeart Rate– electrocardiographelectrocardiograph
Muscle TensionMuscle Tension– electromyographelectromyograph
Measures of Arousal LevelsMeasures of Arousal Levels
Respiration RateRespiration Rate– SpirometerSpirometer
Blood PressureBlood Pressure– Only intermittent recordings availableOnly intermittent recordings available
Palmar SweatingPalmar Sweating– Activated by alerting stimuliActivated by alerting stimuli
Galvanic Skin ResponseGalvanic Skin Response– Increased sweating decreases skin resistanceIncreased sweating decreases skin resistance
Anxiety DefinitionsAnxiety Definitions
Trait Anxiety*Trait Anxiety*– General tendency to experience anxiety in General tendency to experience anxiety in
many (or most) achievement situationsmany (or most) achievement situations Predisposition to percieve environmental Predisposition to percieve environmental
situations as threateningsituations as threatening Respond to these situations with increased Respond to these situations with increased
state anxietystate anxiety
Anxiety DefinitionsAnxiety Definitions
Five factors related to increases in state Five factors related to increases in state anxiety (Endler, 1978)anxiety (Endler, 1978)
State AnxietyState Anxiety– Immediate feelings of anxiety; situation Immediate feelings of anxiety; situation
specificspecific Cognitive Vs. SomaticCognitive Vs. Somatic
Somatic AnxietySomatic Anxiety
Physiological activationPhysiological activation
Perception of physiological symptoms of Perception of physiological symptoms of increased anxietyincreased anxiety
Closely related to arousal levelsClosely related to arousal levels
Cognitive AnxietyCognitive Anxiety
Emotional/cognitive dimension of anxietyEmotional/cognitive dimension of anxiety Our typical understanding of anxietyOur typical understanding of anxiety Perception of threatPerception of threat Possible sources of threat (sport)??Possible sources of threat (sport)??
Stress Vs. AnxietyStress Vs. Anxiety
Often linked to anxietyOften linked to anxiety Stress is “nonspecific response of the body Stress is “nonspecific response of the body
to any demand made upon it” to any demand made upon it” (Selye, 1983, p. (Selye, 1983, p. 2 )2 )
Eustress vs. distressEustress vs. distress Hypostress vs. hyperstressHypostress vs. hyperstress Considered necessaryConsidered necessary
Measuring AnxietyMeasuring Anxiety
Sport Competition Anxiety Test (SCAT)Sport Competition Anxiety Test (SCAT) Before I compete, I feel uneasyBefore I compete, I feel uneasy Before I compete, I get a queasy feeling in Before I compete, I get a queasy feeling in
my stomachmy stomach 1 = hardly ever, 2 = sometimes, 3 = often1 = hardly ever, 2 = sometimes, 3 = often Doesn’t separate cognitive/somatic anxietyDoesn’t separate cognitive/somatic anxiety
Measuring AnxietyMeasuring Anxiety
Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 (CSAI-Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 (CSAI-2)2)
Measures multidimensional nature of Measures multidimensional nature of competitive sport anxiety (C, S, S-C)competitive sport anxiety (C, S, S-C)
C - I am concerned about this competitionC - I am concerned about this competition S - I feel jitteryS - I feel jittery S-C - I feel self-confidentS-C - I feel self-confident ““Not at all” to “very much so”Not at all” to “very much so”
Causes of Competitive AnxietyCauses of Competitive Anxiety
Lazarus model of emotion used to explain Lazarus model of emotion used to explain potential causes for competitive anxietypotential causes for competitive anxiety
Primary appraisal - degree of personal Primary appraisal - degree of personal significancesignificance– challenge challenge – threat threat – personal losspersonal loss
Personal Antecedents of Personal Antecedents of Competitive AnxietyCompetitive Anxiety
How an individual views a given competitive How an individual views a given competitive situationsituation
Anxiety research has identified five important Anxiety research has identified five important personal factors:personal factors:– trait anxietytrait anxiety– self-confidence/self-efficacyself-confidence/self-efficacy– goalsgoals– age/experience/skill levelage/experience/skill level– gendergender
Situational Antecedents of Situational Antecedents of Competitive AnxietyCompetitive Anxiety
Elements within competitive situation may Elements within competitive situation may be anxiety-provokingbe anxiety-provoking
May facilitate or threaten personal well-being May facilitate or threaten personal well-being (Examples?)(Examples?)
Temporal patterning & sport typeTemporal patterning & sport type
Temporal PatterningTemporal Patterning
Measure state anxiety leading up to Measure state anxiety leading up to competition several timescompetition several times
Cognitive anxiety remains constant Cognitive anxiety remains constant before/during competition unless expectations before/during competition unless expectations changechange
Somatic increase leading up to competition, Somatic increase leading up to competition, then declining and stabilizingthen declining and stabilizing