Arousal and the inverted U theory
- Arousal is a physical and mental (physiological and psychological) state of alertness or readiness, from deep sleep to intense excitement.
- The inverted U theory says performance improves as arousal rises, up to an optimal point, then falls if arousal keeps rising.
- Under-aroused performers are slow and unfocused; over-aroused performers become anxious, tense and make mistakes.
Optimal arousal depends on the skill
- Fine skills, such as putting in golf or archery, need low arousal for accuracy and control.
- Gross skills, such as a rugby tackle or weightlifting, need high arousal for power.
- Experienced performers can usually cope with higher arousal than beginners.
Stress management techniques
- Deep breathing: slow breaths lower heart rate and calm the performer, such as before a penalty.
- Mental rehearsal, visualisation and imagery: picturing performing the skill successfully, in a calm place or during the event.
- Positive self-talk: replacing negative thoughts with encouraging ones, such as "I've practised this".
Key terms
- Arousal
- A physical and mental state of alertness or readiness.
- Inverted U theory
- Performance improves with arousal up to an optimal point, then declines.
- Optimal arousal
- The level of arousal that gives the best performance.
- Anxiety
- A negative mental state of worry about performance.
- Mental rehearsal
- Picturing yourself performing a skill successfully.
- Positive self-talk
- Using encouraging thoughts to stay calm and confident.
- Fine skill
- A skill using small muscle groups and precise movements.
- Gross skill
- A skill using large muscle groups and powerful movements.
Practise Arousal, anxiety and stress management: 10 questions