IB Sports, exercise and health science C.4.1.1 Arousal as a Physical and Psychological Activation Affecting Performance Key Definitions

Arousal refers to the level of physiological and psychological activation an athlete experiences. It ranges from low (relaxed) to high (intense excitement or stress).

Drive theory refers to a psychological concept that suggests a linear relationship between an athlete's arousal level and their performance, meaning as arousal increases, so does their performance, with no optimal level of arousal; essentially, the more aroused an athlete is, the better they will perform according to this theory.

The 'inverted U' theory proposes that sporting performance improves as arousal levels increase but that there is a threshold point. Any increase in arousal beyond the threshold point will worsen performance. At low arousal levels, performance quality is low.

Humans retain an evolutionary stress response similar to animals, activating the sympathetic nervous system in threatening situations. This fight-or-flight reaction increases heart rate and releases epinephrine (adrenaline) to mobilize energy for action.