Social Psychology of Sport
Critical conversation on cusp catastrophe model and using its principles of stress with an athlete's performance.
Introduction
The ability to handle pressure and panic under intense conditions such as a large sporting event is an essential skill to obtain, especially for at the very top level athlete. Anxiousness can be associated with a distressing state of mind, which can have different effects on performance. There were many reported situations among sportsmen relating the feeling of being anxious or stressed in various sports. Dias et, al (2009) have participated in a study reporting 550 results among different level sports athletes linking to anxiety and stress to the important event. Some research have been proven that there have been reduction in performance in correlation to anxiousness such as memory, complex motor jobs such as taking pictures into the hoop in golf ball () or in house climbing (). However, there are also positive stress and anxiety correlations on performance regarding rebound shot in hockey and () show to possess improvement in motor jobs skills such as anagram-solving.
However, the connections between panic and performance have been difficult to explain. Things such as methodological imperfections, lack of operational explanations and unclear theoretical engineering all conjunct within different theories (). Hardy's (1990) cups catastrophe model (CCM) has been wanting to explain the contradicting ramifications of panic on performance, using multidimensional construct model.
Cusp catastrophe model
The catastrophe theory was formerly proposed by the mathematician Rene Thom (1975). Rene developed the model geometrically detailing all effortlessly discontinuities on earth. Hardy (1990) has then developed a style of stress and performance (), wanting to make clear the contradicting findings that have been previously reported regarding anxiousness on performance.
The model is dependant on the take on nervousness performance as a multidimensional build; it combines the cognitive components "interactive ramifications of anxiety-performance relationship, the facilitative effects of cognitive nervousness and hysteresis"(), and physiological arousals 'the organism's natural physiological respond to anxiety-including satiations'(). Cups catastrophe model shows an interactive, three-dimensional model predicting the consequences for cognitive anxiousness in a form of get worried and physiological arousal on performance.
Cups catastrophe model proposes that there are a series of four romantic relationships which prevails between cognitive anxiousness, physiological arousal and performance. Cognitive arousal (CA) components are discussed as targets and cognitive concerns about one self, their situation and potential implications (). Physiological arousal (PA) part is regarded as physiological respond to nervousness, such as pain, feeling sick or feeling uneasy ().
The first predictor suggests that cognitive panic has an optimistic connection with performance, when physiological arousal is at the lower end of the range. The next predictor shows to truly have a negative romantic relationship with performance, when physiological arousal is high. Third, is when the CA is low, the PA is proven to provide an inverted U-shaped romantic relationship on performance. The ultimate predictor shows that, when CA is high and physiological arousal is increasing a rest in the wave of performance surface occurs. The break up factor shows that you will see a catastrophic drop in performance from the top performance surface to lessen performance surface. Furthermore, when the catastrophic drop has took place, with the large decrease in physiological arousal it is possible to bring performance back to the upper performance surface (). The change that occur when cognitive stress is high and physiological arousal raises is called hysteresis, which occurs under the health of high cognitive nervousness but not low cognitive nervousness.
Hysteresis can be described as the problem within the model where performance can catastrophically decrease from the upper performance surface to the lower performance surface. However, with the reduction in PA levels below the level of which the catastrophic drop happened performance of the athlete may increase.
Analysing one of the quotes made by Jessica Ennis, (2011) who is a professional 100 meter hurdler, have said: "I'm really, really stressed before every event, " she admits. "There are different degrees of nerves. Prior to the hurdles I'm especially nervous as it is the first event and, once that's out of the way, I relax a little bit". Using cups catastrophe model it can be seen that Jessica experience indicators of stress and anxiety, having different levels of nervousness throughout the function. It could be expected that her cognitive and physiological arousals are fairly high, as the pressure from an Olympic event such as crowd, competition, earning the platinum medal or podium position could have an effect on her performance. So prior to the event Jessica's panic levels are high, with cognitive anxiety being high and physiological arousal lessening the hysteresis effect may occur with Jessica feeling the pressure. However, her personal coping strategies may help reverse that impact, bringing her back again to top of the performance surface when your competition begins. Managing the high cognitive point out and physiological arousal may help increase performance during the event. Straight following the event it could be seen that she may relax, so her cognitive stress and physiological arousal decrease straight following the event leaving her to be more stress-free. In addition, if she got to perform the hurdles after a certain amount of time, cognitive stress could be in at the center and physiological arousal being low, to keep up the concentration on her behalf to progress on to the next tier.
Critical discussion
The cups catastrophe model are designed for sophisticated linear and nonlinear relationship concurrently in a three-dimensional manner, by using high-order probability density within the model, the functions have the advantage of having the ability to integrate quick changes within behavioural jumps in the hysteresis(). Researches by Hardy et al, 2010 have applied the theory behind the cusp model over two experiments, supporting the procedure and the theory behind performance catastrophes and panic by it with high degrees of trait nervousness with competitive environment. The second study was cultural pressure and ego within the competitive environment which claim that the mugs catastrophe model is plausible. Hardy at al, 2007 also have found that hysteresis did happen in high CA condition, with the significant drops in performance with the upsurge in PA and CA. Another research by Marshall et al. 2005 investigated how interaction ramifications of cognitive stress and physiological arousal on have an effect on golf performance. The study did confirm that using the model, it acquired a positive marriage in regards of different situations and how nervousness is coped. However, the study also suggested that even though the strategy is plausible other factors would have to be assessed, as the theory is multidimensional it's very complex.
Edwards et al, 2002 on the other hands, implemented that the idea of cusp catastrophe model may be plausible; however other factors such as self-assurance could appear to play a substantial part in the catastrophic performance. Also () has applied that other models such as endogenous learning-by-doing (ELBD), supports similar basics of anxiety literature.
All of the studies and theories suggest that panic does have different effects on physiological arousal and on expectation timing performance during competition and practice. Also the majority of the models do tend to support the hysteresis theory and the catastrophe occurrence.
Most of the books supports the different implementation of nervousness which occurs within the real human mind, however it is highly complex and must be further investigated to find a greater explanation on how anxiety influences sporting performance.
Conclusion
Determining the consequences on stress on performance continues to be ripe at this time; there are plenty of implementations that could be added to all of the models and theories. However, by using combined theories it could help further justification and elimination of how there are associations within knowledge of anxiety, and exactly how potentially it could increase and reduce performance of the athletes. With the cups catastrophe model being one of the very most used in the research, it cannot be overlooked that other factors may have an effect on the relationship between anxiety and performance. Together with the implementation of mugs catastrophe model researchers could use other models or theories to round up the final outcome.
Reads
Anxiety-induced performance catastrophes: Looking into work required as an asymmetry factor
- Lew Hardy*,
- Stuart Beattie and
- Tim Woodman
