Question 1

What is the relationship between arousal and anxiety?

Accepted Answer

Anxiety is essentially a type of negative arousal, where the body's stress response is activated, leading to feelings of tension, worried thoughts, and physical changes like increased blood pressure.

Question 2

What is a major reason certain situations cause athletes to feel stressed?

Accepted Answer

The belief that the situation is too demanding for their ability to cope with the situation is a major reason why athletes feel stressed. This can be due to factors such as pressure to perform, fear of failure, or lack of preparation.

Question 3

According to theories on the effect of stress and arousal on performance, at which of these levels would stress be most likely to actually increase levels of performance?

Accepted Answer

Moderate levels of stress can enhance performance by increasing alertness and motivation, according to the Yerkes-Dodson Law, which suggests there is an optimal level of arousal for peak performance.

Question 4

What happens to the body when the fight-or-flight response is triggered by a stressor?

Accepted Answer

All of the options listed occur when the fight-or-flight response is triggered by a stressor. Energy is shifted from nonessential body systems to those necessary for survival, the hypothalamus activates the sympathetic nervous system and endocrine systems, and heart rate, blood pressure, breathing rate increases, and pupils dilate.

Question 5

______ anxiety describes a behavioral disposition, whereas ______ anxiety is caused by a given situation and is temporary.

Accepted Answer

Trait anxiety refers to an individual's general tendency to experience anxiety across many situations, whereas state anxiety refers to situational anxiety that is often short-lived and context-specific.

Question 6

Which of the following scenarios may cause an athlete to experience state anxiety?

Accepted Answer

All of the above scenarios can cause an athlete to experience state anxiety. Fear of physical harm, situation ambiguity, and fear of negative social evaluation can all create stress and anxiety for an athlete, which may impact their athletic performance.

Question 7

A collegiate baseball player is at bat, and is being watched by his coach, a few of his family members, and a talent scout. Although the player has a good batting average of .350, he is a sophomore and this is the first game of the season. How is a moderate-to-high level of arousal likely to impact his performance?

Accepted Answer

BA moderate-to-high level of arousal can have both positive and negative impacts on performance, depending on individual factors such as experience, support systems, and personal coping mechanisms. In this scenario, the player's youth and awareness of being judged (A) could increase pressure, potentially hindering performance. Conversely, his good batting average and the support of his coach and family (B) could boost his confidence and focus, enhancing performance.

Question 8

An ice skater is starting to feel very nervous about the competition she is participating in next week. She has practiced hard, but her routine is difficult. Which type of anxiety is she likely to be feeling, in increasing amounts, as the competition draws closer?

Accepted Answer

Cognitive anxiety refers to the mental aspect of anxiety, such as worry or fear of failure, which is likely to increase as the competition approaches.

Question 9

What are symptoms of cognitive anxiety?

Accepted Answer

Cognitive anxiety refers to the psychological symptoms of anxiety, which can include difficulty with concentration and the presence of repetitive negative thoughts. The other options describe physiological symptoms of anxiety rather than cognitive symptoms.

Question 10

Which type of anxiety is likely to spike or peak just before beginning a gymnastics routine in a major competition?

Accepted Answer

Somatic anxiety is related to the physical symptoms of anxiety, such as increased heart rate, sweating, and trembling. These symptoms are likely to spike just before beginning a gymnastics routine in a major competition due to the high pressure and stress of the situation. Trait anxiety refers to a person's general level of anxiety, which may or may not be high in this case. Cognitive anxiety is related to negative thoughts and worries, which may also be present but may not necessarily spike before the routine. Flow is a psychological state of optimal performance and focus, which is unlikely to occur during the peak of anxiety just before starting a routine.

Question 11

According to the transactional model, an athlete playing in a high-stakes game will still perform well if:

Accepted Answer

According to the transactional model, an athlete's performance is influenced by their interpretation of the situation. If they interpret the situation in a positive way, such as seeing it as a challenge rather than a threat, they are more likely to perform well under pressure. Therefore, choice A is the correct answer.

Question 12

What does the transactional model say is the most important predictor of the experience of a stressful event?

Accepted Answer

The transactional model emphasizes the individual's interpretation and appraisal of a stressful event as the primary factor in determining their experience of stress. This includes their perception of their ability to cope with the situation and the significance and meaning they attach to it. The actual event itself and its outcome are considered secondary factors. The skill level of the athlete may also play a role in their appraisal and coping strategies but is not the most important predictor according to the model.

Question 13

How might the primary appraisals of high pressure situations differ between amateur athletes and professional athletes?

Accepted Answer

Professional athletes are more likely to have experience with high pressure situations and therefore may see their anxiety as a sign that they are prepared and ready to perform at their best. Amateur athletes may not have as much experience and may not interpret their anxiety as helpful.

Question 14

Why might a researcher choose to use a self-report measure when measuring levels of anxiety of a sports team?

Accepted Answer

A researcher might choose to use a self-report measure when measuring levels of anxiety of a sports team because it is relatively inexpensive and easy. Self-report measures are simple and easily administered as they only require individuals to answer a set of standardized questions about their feelings and emotions. This makes it a cost-effective tool for measuring anxiety levels in a large sports team.

Question 15

How are behavioral indicators of stress measured?

Accepted Answer

Behavioral indicators of stress are measured through observation, such as changes in facial expressions, body movements, and speech patterns. Self-report and neuroimaging techniques may provide additional information, but they are not direct measures of behavioral indicators of stress.

Question 16

Which of the following would a researcher or sport psychologist use if they were interested in measuring arousal by looking at blood flow in the brain?

Accepted Answer

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is the best choice for measuring arousal by looking at blood flow in the brain. fMRI uses a magnetic field and radio waves to detect changes in blood flow and oxygenation in specific areas of the brain, providing a detailed image of brain activity.

Question 17

Milton, Solodkin, Hlustik, & Small (2007) examined how experience affects brain activity during an athletic task by having amateur and professional golfers imagine hitting a golf ball to a hole very far away. What did they find?

Accepted Answer

Milton et al. found that professional golfers showed brain activation in areas that involve planning and carrying out specific actions, indicating that experience affects brain activity during an athletic task.

Question 18

Which of the following states that as arousal increases, so does performance, and does not distinguish between somatic and cognitive anxiety?

Accepted Answer

Drive theory states that as arousal increases, so does performance, regardless of whether the arousal is from somatic or cognitive anxiety.

Question 19

According to drive theory, why do athletes who are about to be traded show lower levels of performance than after they are traded?

Accepted Answer

Drive theory suggests that performance can be affected by levels of arousal, with too high levels leading to anxiety and potentially lower performance. Before a trade, athletes may experience high levels of arousal due to uncertainty and anxiety about their future, which can negatively impact their performance. After the trade, when the uncertainty is resolved, their arousal levels may decrease, leading to improved performance.

Question 20

According to social facilitation theory, what should happen if you are good at a task, you are currently performing that task, and there are people in your presence, observing you?

Accepted Answer

According to social facilitation theory, the presence of others can increase our arousal and attention, leading us to perform better on well-learned tasks. Therefore, if someone is good at a task and is currently performing that task while being observed by others, their performance should be even better than normal.

Quiz 6: Arousal and Anxiety