Emotional Control and IZOF.Emotional Control and IZOF.

Mr P. LeightonMr P. LeightonMental Preparation for Physical Mental Preparation for Physical

Activities.Activities.Sports PsychologySports Psychology

Arousal…Arousal…What is Arousal then?What is Arousal then?Arousal is a combination of Arousal is a combination of PHYSIOLOGICAL and PSYCHOLOGICAL PHYSIOLOGICAL and PSYCHOLOGICAL excitement or ACTIVATION.excitement or ACTIVATION.The intensity of arousal determines the The intensity of arousal determines the responsiveness or direction of the responsiveness or direction of the behaviour i.e. dominant responses.behaviour i.e. dominant responses.It is also associated with the CUE It is also associated with the CUE UTILISATION and INVERTED U THEORY- UTILISATION and INVERTED U THEORY- How?How?

What Influences Arousal?What Influences Arousal?

Arousal is never the same for any 2 Arousal is never the same for any 2 individuals. 3 Variables intervene individuals. 3 Variables intervene and cause variations to optimal and cause variations to optimal performance.performance.

1.1. Personality.Personality.

2.2. Complexity of Task.Complexity of Task.

3.3. Level of Ability.Level of Ability.

Personality…Personality…

Extroverts perform best at _____ Extroverts perform best at _____ optimal arousal level. An introverted optimal arousal level. An introverted personality type, in contrast, personality type, in contrast, performs better at _____ optimal performs better at _____ optimal arousal point. arousal point.

Introverts have a very sensitive RAS.Introverts have a very sensitive RAS.

Conclusion?Conclusion?

Complexity of Task…Complexity of Task…Simple tasks such as shot putt tend to be Simple tasks such as shot putt tend to be gross, habitual and have a wide margin for gross, habitual and have a wide margin for error.error.Tasks are best performed when the Tasks are best performed when the performer has a high optimal threshold of performer has a high optimal threshold of arousal- further to go.arousal- further to go.Complex tasks are often more perceptual, Complex tasks are often more perceptual, manipulative and have less room for error manipulative and have less room for error i.e. spin bowling.i.e. spin bowling.

Level of Ability…Level of Ability…

An expert athlete (autonomous) An expert athlete (autonomous) would find a high level of arousal would find a high level of arousal beneficial to performance.beneficial to performance.

Those at novice (cognitive or Those at novice (cognitive or associative) who need to concentrate associative) who need to concentrate on basic movements, would require a on basic movements, would require a low level of arousal if they are to low level of arousal if they are to continue to learn.continue to learn.

Performance and Arousal…Performance and Arousal…The unbroken line The unbroken line represents low optimal represents low optimal arousal required for one, arousal required for one, all or a combination of all or a combination of the following variables…the following variables…– High complexityHigh complexity– Low abilityLow ability– IntroversionIntroversion

The broken line The broken line represents high optimal represents high optimal arousal required for one, arousal required for one, all or a combination of all or a combination of the following variables…the following variables…– Low complexityLow complexity– High abilityHigh ability– ExtroversionExtroversion

Anxiety and Performance…Anxiety and Performance…The relationship between anxiety and The relationship between anxiety and sport performance is extremely important.sport performance is extremely important.

What is Anxiety then? What is Anxiety then?

ANXIETY is a NEGATIVE emotional state ANXIETY is a NEGATIVE emotional state associated with WORRY associated with associated with WORRY associated with ACTIVATION or AROUSAL.ACTIVATION or AROUSAL.

What is the difference between ANXIETY What is the difference between ANXIETY and AROUSAL?and AROUSAL?

2 forms of ANXIETY…2 forms of ANXIETY…COGNITIVE ANXIETY: the COGNITIVE ANXIETY: the thought component of anxiety. thought component of anxiety. It is associated with worry, It is associated with worry, apprehension and fear of apprehension and fear of negative evaluation of negative evaluation of performance.performance.SOMATIC ANXIETY: the physical SOMATIC ANXIETY: the physical component and is associated component and is associated with increased HR and BP. with increased HR and BP. Somatic anxiety is triggered by Somatic anxiety is triggered by cognitive anxiety.cognitive anxiety.

Question…Question…

How can we link CATASTROPHE How can we link CATASTROPHE THEORY into levels of AROUSAL? (3)THEORY into levels of AROUSAL? (3)– High cognitive arousal coincides with a High cognitive arousal coincides with a

somatic arousal level past optimal level, somatic arousal level past optimal level, the performance of the individual drops the performance of the individual drops sharply.sharply.

STATE and TRAIT anxiety…STATE and TRAIT anxiety…This relates to the stability of anxiety…This relates to the stability of anxiety…STATE ANXIETY: a persons immediate STATE ANXIETY: a persons immediate condition of anxiety in ANY ONE condition of anxiety in ANY ONE SITUATION.SITUATION.TRAIT ANXIETY: is a general disposition to TRAIT ANXIETY: is a general disposition to perceive situations as threatening. Trait perceive situations as threatening. Trait anxiety is part of personality and is anxiety is part of personality and is RELETIVELY STABLE.RELETIVELY STABLE.Trait anxiety determines the degree of Trait anxiety determines the degree of state anxiety that is experienced.state anxiety that is experienced.

STRESS…STRESS…Stress is the trigger that stimulates and Stress is the trigger that stimulates and increases both ANXIETY and AROUSAL.increases both ANXIETY and AROUSAL.This is when a performer reaches a This is when a performer reaches a challenge they feel they cannot cope with. challenge they feel they cannot cope with. i.e. a penalty in football.i.e. a penalty in football.The penalty is deemed the “stressor” in The penalty is deemed the “stressor” in that situation. that situation. There is also conflict, competition and There is also conflict, competition and frustration which are examples of frustration which are examples of stressors in sport. stressors in sport.

STRESS and HEALTHY STRESS and HEALTHY BALANCED LIFESTYLES…BALANCED LIFESTYLES…

Long term stress can impede healthy Long term stress can impede healthy balanced lifestyles.balanced lifestyles.Short term stress and the Short term stress and the subsequent onset of anxiety and subsequent onset of anxiety and arousal can, when controlled, be arousal can, when controlled, be beneficial in sport. beneficial in sport. This is explained through the This is explained through the INDIVIDUAL ZONE OF OPTIMAL INDIVIDUAL ZONE OF OPTIMAL FUNCTIONING (IZOF).FUNCTIONING (IZOF).

IZOF…IZOF…Hanin (1986) researched specifically Hanin (1986) researched specifically the effect of anxiety on performance.the effect of anxiety on performance.Hanin proposed that people respond Hanin proposed that people respond differently to anxiety.differently to anxiety.Hanin concluded that there is not a Hanin concluded that there is not a general relationship between general relationship between ANXIETY and PERFORMANCE, though ANXIETY and PERFORMANCE, though athletes have there own preferred athletes have there own preferred level of anxiety.level of anxiety.

Hanin’s Model of the IZOF…Hanin’s Model of the IZOF…

IZOF vs. INVERTED U vs. IZOF vs. INVERTED U vs. CATASTROPHE THEORY…CATASTROPHE THEORY…

As the facilitator of best As the facilitator of best performance, the preferred level of performance, the preferred level of anxiety is not shown as a point or a anxiety is not shown as a point or a threshold on either of the other threshold on either of the other theories- in IZOF it is presented as a theories- in IZOF it is presented as a band width.band width.

Further Developments…Further Developments…

Randle and Weinberg (1997) Randle and Weinberg (1997) proposed that players in team sports proposed that players in team sports have a preference for a lower IZOF have a preference for a lower IZOF than athletes competing in individual than athletes competing in individual events.events.

PEAK FLOW…PEAK FLOW…

Csikszentmihalyi (1990) proposed Csikszentmihalyi (1990) proposed that completion of skill is at optimum that completion of skill is at optimum level when the performer is level when the performer is controlled and focused.controlled and focused.

This creates intrinsic reward, self-This creates intrinsic reward, self-fulfilment and happiness.fulfilment and happiness.

This is a rarely experienced, holistic This is a rarely experienced, holistic sensation known as “PEAK FLOW”sensation known as “PEAK FLOW”

Continued…Continued…Martens (1992) PEAK FLOW is most likely to occur Martens (1992) PEAK FLOW is most likely to occur when HIGH SOMATIC AROUSAL coincides with when HIGH SOMATIC AROUSAL coincides with LOW COGNITIVE ANXIETY. LOW COGNITIVE ANXIETY. Other factors include…Other factors include…– AnxietyAnxiety– ConcentrationConcentration– Attention StyleAttention Style– ConfidenceConfidence– Goal SettingGoal Setting– Environmental ConditionsEnvironmental Conditions– LeadershipLeadership– Group CohesionGroup Cohesion (This is on pg 261- table)(This is on pg 261- table)

Work for you…Work for you…

Complete the ANXIETY MANAGEMENT Complete the ANXIETY MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES on pg 260 and the two TECHNIQUES on pg 260 and the two tables on 261-262 relating to tables on 261-262 relating to SOMATIC and COGNITIVE ANXIETY.SOMATIC and COGNITIVE ANXIETY.

That’s it!!!That’s it!!!

Next weeks lesson will take an exam Next weeks lesson will take an exam tutorial basis- I will have 3 questions tutorial basis- I will have 3 questions prepared to get you used to writing prepared to get you used to writing at length for 10, 20 or 30 mins.at length for 10, 20 or 30 mins.

Well done for completing what is a Well done for completing what is a difficult area of the course.difficult area of the course.