Inverted-U and catastrophe theories

Overview

Yerkes and Dodson's inverted-U, optimal arousal and the effect of skill type, experience and personality, catastrophe theory's cognitive anxiety and somatic arousal, and which theory helps a coach more.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1. 1

   What does inverted-U theory propose?

   Model answer

   Inverted-U theory proposes that performance improves as arousal rises, up to an optimal point. Beyond the optimum, further arousal makes performance decline.

2. 2

   Whose work is inverted-U theory based on?

   Model answer

   Inverted-U theory is based on the work of Robert Yerkes and John Dodson in 1908. The theory is often called the Yerkes–Dodson law.

3. 3

   Describe the shape of the inverted-U graph.

   Model answer

   The inverted-U graph rises from low arousal to a peak at moderate arousal. The curve then falls away gradually as arousal becomes very high.

4. 4

   Why is performance poor at low arousal, according to inverted-U theory?

   Model answer

   A performer with low arousal lacks motivation and concentration. Effort is low and the performer is easily distracted.

5. 5

   What happens to performance at optimal arousal?

   Model answer

   At optimal arousal the performer is fully focused and motivated. Selective attention picks out the relevant cues and performance peaks.

6. 6

   Why does performance decline when a performer is over-aroused?

   Model answer

   An over-aroused performer becomes anxious and loses concentration. Attention narrows too far, so key cues are missed.

Other ways to work this

The same content, four other ways.

What is inside Levo

Six ways to work the same material.