In sports, there are several factors that can affect a player’s ability to perform at their optimal level. Most of these factors can be controlled but some cannot. For further discussion, we will consider some factors that can potentially relate to the kind of performance an athlete can deliver. These include stress, anxiety, and arousal.
Stress and Anxiety
According to Pargman, stress is defined as the body’s way of responding to change causing the feeling of frustration or nervousness (5). On the other hand, anxiety derives from stress and it is the feeling of fear, constant worry, and being unease. There are two forms of stress that can affect an individual: eustress and distress. The first mentioned is the positive kind of stress and in sports; it can help increase the performance levels of the player. Distress, however, is the negative kind that potentially lowers performance levels (Pargman 6).
There are different causes of stress beginning with internal factors such as nutrition, hygiene, and general fitness. Aspects such as psychological well-being and one’s attitude can also cause stress and anxiety. Pargman further explains that external factors are the most known cause of stress as they entail more of the physical environment that one is constantly subjected to (5). In addition to this, our personal being based on family and friends, and even our own personalities can lead to stress. The working environment, be it pay, workload, performance, and relations are also known as contributors to stressing out for individuals. When it comes to sports, Pargman explains that it has more to do with performance levels of an athlete along with constant competition factor to cause stress and anxiety (14).
Two major kinds of symptoms can help to explain the mechanism of stress and anxiety. For most people, sympathetic symptoms will tend to show first, which is to fight or flee from the stressful environment. American Psychological Association explains that it causes an adrenaline rush prompting the body to react in the most appropriate way. On the other hand, parasympathetic is more of a rest and digests response to stressful situations. It may occur after the event has passed or is simply a coping mechanism for some individuals (Tovian et al.).
The effect that stress and anxiety have on sports performance can either be positive or negative. Pargman explains that stress can be a good thing when it pushes for great performance as a focal point to achieve a specific objective (17). However, the same stress can lead to a negative state of mind to hinder decision making and overall performance during a sporting activity.
Arousal
Arousal is the mental state of being prepared or ready to take on a task and deliver to one’s ability. It can be described through an array of theories, some of which include the drive theory that explains how performances are equivalent to the level of arousal (Pargman 13). As such, the more aroused an individual is, the better his/her performance is likely to be and vice verse. It is more of a goal-oriented focus to motivate someone to be aroused enough to perform in a specific manner.
There is the inverted U hypothesis that explains arousal in the sense of physiological motivation (Pargman 11). Consequently, an individual who is arousal level is low or high will perform respectfully to their level. However, the best level is the optimal level which we all have a difference in. When the optimal level of arousal is reached, the focus is maintained and performance is encouraged. However, the more this level is increased, the less the performance becomes (Hallam).Therefore, there is a need to ensure that the level is maintained at all times. The catastrophe theory works more or less like the inverted U hypothesis. Hallam explains that an increase in arousal will definitely be matched with an increase in performance. However, the more aroused the individual gets, the more is the chance of a sudden decline in performance, thus the catastrophe.
The effect that arousal has on sports performance can be detailed in regards to attention, concentration, and aggression. A change in arousal will lead to almost the same in any of the three areas. As such, a lower change will make the sportsperson’s attention to be wider and concentration less focused (Hallam). However, if well aroused, attention will be narrowed down as so will be concentration, which leads to improved and better performance. In regards to aggression, arousal, when at its optimal, will make group muscles react positively, thus the right amount of aggression will be applied. Too much of arousal can also lead to one being overly aggressive, affecting individual’s sports performance in a negative manner.
Three Theories of Arousal
As mentioned above, arousal is best defined through the theories associated with it. As such, the drive theory is the most commonly applied theory to describe arousal. It works according to the principle that individual needs to have a finish goal in order to be aroused enough to behave or perform in a specific manner. The drive theory helps to define the relationship between arousal and performance as being proportionally equal to each other. This means that when one is motivated enough, they will be aroused to perform. It goes to show that drive theory impacts the performance by helping to describe the satisfactory feeling an individual is likely to achieve when he/she is willing to achieve something. For example, a basketball player longing to win a highly competitive game will be aroused to perform at his/her best to attain the end goal, which is to win. If they are not aroused enough to view victory as a must-have goal, then their performance will definitely be wanting.
The inverted U hypothesis describes a situation, in which the performance in sports has to correlate with being psyched up or not (Pargman 11). According to the theory, low levels of arousal will mean that the individual is not motivated enough. However, in an opposite situation, the arousal will increase and improve the performance until it reaches the optimal point. The latter is the best condition for the best performance levels to be reached, given that as arousal levels increase, the decline in performance is bound to happen due to muscle fatigue.
Lastly, there is the catastrophe theory which implies almost the same argument as that of inverted U hypothesis. The only difference is that with catastrophe theory, performance is affected as long as an individual remains aroused both cognitively and physically. When the optimal point is reached and passed, performance starts to decline, which is termed as the catastrophe, which happens because the body is not relaxed enough (Pargman 13). Therefore, an individual can still achieve great performance if his/her cognitive anxiety is aroused but the parasympathetic symptoms set in to relax the body to enhance performance.
Works Cited
Tovian, Steve, Beverly Thorn, Helen Coons, Susan Labott, Matthew Burg, Richard Surwit, and Daniel Bruns. “Stress Effects on the Body.” American Psychological Association, 2017, http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/stress-body.aspx. Accessed 10 Jan. 2018.
Hallam, Liam. “Effects of Arousal and Anxiety on Sports Performance.” Hubpages, 28 Sept 2016, https://hubpages.com/education/Effects-Arousal-Anxiety-Sports-Performance. Accessed 10 Jan. 2018.
Pargman, David. Managing Performance Stress: Models and Methods. Taylor " Francis, 2006.
