Drive theory: Performance = habit x drive:

• Simply gives the idea that the higher the level of arousal, the higher level of performance.

• So at the 6 minute mark was the only point where I have comfortably identified that you felt positive and performed positively. You said that “you felt more like yourself, pain felt good and you experienced a surge in energy.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inverted U hypothesis:

• Proposes that there is an optimal relationship between arousal and performance.

• Too high or too low arousal equals poor performance

• One minute into the race I believe you were over aroused and this hindered your performance. You said you were in a “daze and felt weak and exhausted”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Individualized zone of optimal functioning:

• Suggests that there substantial individual variability in arousal-performance relationships.

• Some athletes perform better at different levels of arousal and therefore need to find which is best for them.

• 5 minute mark of the race her arousal levels drop which allowed her to enter her individual level of optimal functioning. “She focuses on the persons shoulder blades in front of her and counts the strokes getting back into a rhythm she is used to experiencing”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Multidimensional anxiety theory:

• This model is composed of two distinct subcomponents, cognitive anxiety and somatic anxiety.

• Cognitive anxiety, negative expectations- you were comparing yourself to your other athletes. Start of the race

• Somatic anxiety, physical arousal- start or the race. Increased heart rate sweating.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Catastrophe theory:

• A variant of the inverted U hypothesis, which predicts that an increase in arousal beyond an optimal point leads to a symmetrical, orderly decline  in performance.

• 1-4 minutes when her race isn’t going well and she misses a stroke and can’t get back into rhythm and after the race when she quits the team.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References can be found here