2.1D- Arousal
Drive theory
Description
A linear relationship between arousal and performance
High arousal results in high performance levels
Low arousal leads to low performance levels
Positives
A high level of arousal intensifies the dominant response
In elite autonomous performers the dominant response is the correct response because they have grooved the skill and can deal with high levels of arousal
It explains high performance in dynamic, explosive and ballistic skills
It helps teachers and coaches when teaching those in the cognitive stage as they understand that novices require low levels of arousal
Negatives
However, even the best performers suffer deteriorated performance when arousal levels are very high
Also, the dominant response for cognitive and associative performers may be incorrect and high arousal can lead to a decrease in performance levels
A linear relationship hardly ever occurs and doesn't account for a decline in performance at high arousal levels
Inverted U Theory
Description
As arousal increases so does the standard of performance up to the point of optimum arousal
If arousal increases beyond the point of optimum arousal then performance will begin to deteriorate
A moderate amount of arousal is usually the optimal point for optimal performance to be achieved
Positives
Theory accounts for different variables
It recognises that optimal arousal changes based on variables resulting in a shift of the inverted U
It accounts for performance declining at a high level of arousal
It links effectively with cue-utilisation theory based on degree of arousal
Negatives
Increase or decrease in performance is rarely smooth, steady and gradual
No explanation for a sudden decrease in performance levels
Doesn't explain how some performers actually continue to improve at very high arousal levels
Catastrophe theory
Description
Positives
As arousal increases so does the standard of performance up to optimal level
If arousal increases beyond the optimum point then performance will deteriorate rapidly and dramatically
The rapid decline is caused by an interaction between increasing somatic anxiety and high cognitive anxiety in response to high levels of arousal
The result is a loss of co-ordination, loss of concentration, loss of perceptual awareness and difficulty in making good decisions
More realistic than drive theory and inverted U theory
It explains why performance can suddenly decline
It is a multidimensinal theory accounting for cognitive and somatic anxiety
It explains how performers can recover their performance as they re-join the upwards curve of arousal
Negative
Some performers never experience a sudden decline but only a slow decline as suggested by the inverted U theory
It does not take into account task difficulty, skill level, or personality