SPORT PYSCHOLOGY: PYC 4812
Possible questions on Arousal in the exam
Qs: Describe the use of the term arousal in sport psychology, explain the
difference between arousal and anxiety, and describe how arousal is measured in
sport psychology?
Attempted Ans: Arousal: neural excitation ↔ Activation
▪ According to Williams & Krane (2015) arousal refers to a generalised physiological
excitation varying on a continuum from deep sleep to extreme excitement;
▪ Serves as an energising function and thus reflects the intensity level of motivation and is non-
directive;
▪ Whether the arousal starts with a thought or an external stimulus, the result is autonomic
nervous system responses such as increased heart and respiration rates, butterflies in the
stomach muscle tension and sweating;
▪ Activation: is synonymous with the term arousal and refers to the overall physical and mental
state required by an athlete to be ready to perform a respective task or activity. (Williams &
Krane, 2015)
Anxiety: An emotion associated with the experience of stress in sport.
o Williams & Krane (2015) further, explained in sport psychology in detail as such:
o in its’s different forms in Sport Psychology symptoms may include worry, together with
a heightened perception of one’s physiological state or level of arousal;
o Cognitive anxiety responses represent the thoughts experienced in stressful situations
include worries negative expectations and apprehensions about performance (mental
responses to stressors)
o Somatic anxiety symptoms include factors such as muscular tension, butterflies in the
stomach, dry mouth, clammy hands and perspiration.
How arousal is measured:
▪ Data taken from the electromyograph, and the use of digital video technology and
match analysis techniques can facilitate objective observation and assessment of player
, behaviour during training and competition and form the basis of a post-event evaluation
interview;
▪ Measurement data of physiological arousal as heart rate, blood pressure and muscle
tone from the electromyograph is helpful especially from repressors;
▪ Brainwave data measuring epinephrine, norephrine and corticosteroids (all released
into the bloodstream during stress) could be undertaken;
▪ The inverted-U-hypothesis.
Qs: Discuss the relationship between arousal and motor performance: In the
discussion-
➢ give a short explanation of drive theory;
➢ Present a detailed exposition of the inverted-U-hypothesis;
➢ Briefly discuss one alternate to the inverted U-hypothesis
Attempted Ans: Drive Theory
According to Williams & Krane (2015) this means that increases in drive or arousal are
associated with linear increases in performance providing that the task is well learned, and that
the dominant response of the athlete is the correct one, however this theory did not receive
much research support.
Inverted-U-hypothesis
▪ Stipulates that increases in arousal from drowsiness to alertness result in progressive
performance gains up to an optimal-level of arousal beyond which; in arousal result in
progressive performance;
▪ The characteristics of the task and performer determine the optimal level of arousal; e.g
tasks that are complex, high in decisional demands or require fine motor skills benefit
from lower-level of arousal for optimal performance; and simple tasks, gross motor
skills; strength and speed tasks benefit from higher-levels of arousal (e.g. accuracy
calmness for task strength, power);
▪ In terms of individual difference factors, athletes with higher skills levels, more
experience in the competitive setting, with good stress-coping skills, and a lower trait
anxiety or an extroverted personality can handle higher arousal levels without
performance deficits in contrary to those who possess the opposite qualities;
Possible questions on Arousal in the exam
Qs: Describe the use of the term arousal in sport psychology, explain the
difference between arousal and anxiety, and describe how arousal is measured in
sport psychology?
Attempted Ans: Arousal: neural excitation ↔ Activation
▪ According to Williams & Krane (2015) arousal refers to a generalised physiological
excitation varying on a continuum from deep sleep to extreme excitement;
▪ Serves as an energising function and thus reflects the intensity level of motivation and is non-
directive;
▪ Whether the arousal starts with a thought or an external stimulus, the result is autonomic
nervous system responses such as increased heart and respiration rates, butterflies in the
stomach muscle tension and sweating;
▪ Activation: is synonymous with the term arousal and refers to the overall physical and mental
state required by an athlete to be ready to perform a respective task or activity. (Williams &
Krane, 2015)
Anxiety: An emotion associated with the experience of stress in sport.
o Williams & Krane (2015) further, explained in sport psychology in detail as such:
o in its’s different forms in Sport Psychology symptoms may include worry, together with
a heightened perception of one’s physiological state or level of arousal;
o Cognitive anxiety responses represent the thoughts experienced in stressful situations
include worries negative expectations and apprehensions about performance (mental
responses to stressors)
o Somatic anxiety symptoms include factors such as muscular tension, butterflies in the
stomach, dry mouth, clammy hands and perspiration.
How arousal is measured:
▪ Data taken from the electromyograph, and the use of digital video technology and
match analysis techniques can facilitate objective observation and assessment of player
, behaviour during training and competition and form the basis of a post-event evaluation
interview;
▪ Measurement data of physiological arousal as heart rate, blood pressure and muscle
tone from the electromyograph is helpful especially from repressors;
▪ Brainwave data measuring epinephrine, norephrine and corticosteroids (all released
into the bloodstream during stress) could be undertaken;
▪ The inverted-U-hypothesis.
Qs: Discuss the relationship between arousal and motor performance: In the
discussion-
➢ give a short explanation of drive theory;
➢ Present a detailed exposition of the inverted-U-hypothesis;
➢ Briefly discuss one alternate to the inverted U-hypothesis
Attempted Ans: Drive Theory
According to Williams & Krane (2015) this means that increases in drive or arousal are
associated with linear increases in performance providing that the task is well learned, and that
the dominant response of the athlete is the correct one, however this theory did not receive
much research support.
Inverted-U-hypothesis
▪ Stipulates that increases in arousal from drowsiness to alertness result in progressive
performance gains up to an optimal-level of arousal beyond which; in arousal result in
progressive performance;
▪ The characteristics of the task and performer determine the optimal level of arousal; e.g
tasks that are complex, high in decisional demands or require fine motor skills benefit
from lower-level of arousal for optimal performance; and simple tasks, gross motor
skills; strength and speed tasks benefit from higher-levels of arousal (e.g. accuracy
calmness for task strength, power);
▪ In terms of individual difference factors, athletes with higher skills levels, more
experience in the competitive setting, with good stress-coping skills, and a lower trait
anxiety or an extroverted personality can handle higher arousal levels without
performance deficits in contrary to those who possess the opposite qualities;
