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A-Level PE AQA Sport Psychology: Anxiety

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This set focuses on A-Level PE AQA: Sport Psychology – Anxiety, defining anxiety and its two main types: competitive trait and competitive state. It helps learners understand how anxiety affects performance and mental focus in sport.

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What is anxiety?

A negative aspect of stress characterised by irrational thinking, loss of concentration and fear of failure

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Key Terms

Term
Definition

What is anxiety?

A negative aspect of stress characterised by irrational thinking, loss of concentration and fear of failure

What are the two types of anxiety?

Competitive trait and competitive state

What is competitive trait?

A disposition to suffer nerves in most sporting situations

What are the characteristics of competitive trait?

. Consistent
. Stable
. Anxious behaviour all the time

What is an example of competitive trait?

A player worrying before all games

What is competitive state?

Anxiety experienced at a specific time during a competitive situation

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A-Level PE AQA Sport Psychology: Anxiety
TermDefinition

What is anxiety?

A negative aspect of stress characterised by irrational thinking, loss of concentration and fear of failure

What are the two types of anxiety?

Competitive trait and competitive state

What is competitive trait?

A disposition to suffer nerves in most sporting situations

What are the characteristics of competitive trait?

. Consistent
. Stable
. Anxious behaviour all the time

What is an example of competitive trait?

A player worrying before all games

What is competitive state?

Anxiety experienced at a specific time during a competitive situation

What are the characteristics of competitive state?

. Situation dependant
. Temporary rush of anxiety
. Caused by threatening circumstances
. May be cognitive and/or somatic

What is an example of competitive state?

A player taking a penalty

What does a high trait anxiety mean for a performer?

They’re more likely to have a higher state anxiety

What are the two symptoms of anxiety?

Somatic anxiety and cognitive anxiety

What is somatic anxiety?

It is the physiological responses

What are characteristics of somatic anxiety?

. Muscular tension
. Shaking
. Pacing
. Poor co-ordination
. Sweating
. Increased HR

What is cognitive anxiety?

It is the psychological responses

What are the characteristics of cognitive anxiety?

. Irrational thinking - nerves
. Worrying
. Confusion
. Loss of concentration

What are the causes of anxiety?

. Being watched
. Running out of time
. Increased competition
. Letting the team down
. Playing badly
. Injury

What are the different ways you can measure anxiety?

. Questionnaires
. Observation
, physiological responses

How is a questionnaire used?

SCAT (Sports Competition Anxiety Test) is a questionnaire used by sports psychologists


What are the pros of using a questionnaire to measure anxiety?

. It is quick,easy and cheap
. Results allows easy comparison

What are the cons of using a questionnaire to measure anxiety?

. Inaccurate/untruthful answers - people may give socially acceptable answers
. Misinterpretation of questions, lack of understanding
. Answers may depend on mood
. Questions may be inappropriate - results to biased answers
. Responses can be influenced by time taken to complete questions

How is observation used to measure anxiety?

It measures anxiety by watching the individual

What are the pros of using observation to measure anxiety?

. True to life

What are the cons of using observation to measure anxiety?

. Based on observers opinion - subjective
. Must know performer
. Time consuming
. May need more than 1 observer
. Behaviour may change if they know they are being watched

How is physiological responses used to measure anxiety?

It measures the physical response from the body.

What are the pros of using physiological responses to measure anxiety?

. Factual and allows comparisons to be made
. Responses can be measured in real game situations

What are the cons of using physiological responses to measure anxiety?

. Training can be required to use equipment and cost may inhibit use
. Wearing the device may restrict performance
. The performer mag be affected by wearing the device giving more stress and a false reading

Explain how different types of anxiety can affect sports performance?


Competitive trait: nerves in most sporting situations - player worrying before all games
Competitive state: anxiety at a specific time during a competitive situation- before taking a penalty
Cognitive anxiety is psychological - irrational thinking
Somatic anxiety is physiological- muscular tensionn