What is the Inverted-U Hypothesis? As an athlete what is helpful to know about this state of arousal and how it can help or hinder your performance? Do all sports require the same states of emotional and physical arousal?
The Inverted-U Hypothesis is a point of reference to explain the relationship between arousal states and performance. Underarousal typically exhibits itself in not being psyched up enough to meet the demands of the event. The athlete reports feeling sluggish, can't find their rhythm on the playing field.
As arousal level increases typically so does performance - up to a point. Too much energy causes rhythm and mechancis of movement to be off, a racing mind creates impaired decision making. Optimal arousal will vary for each individual. Optimal performance is a combination of great mental and physical preparation an intermediate level of arousal on game day. Each sport has requirements for optimal performance.
A race car driver must make moment by moment decisions and adjustments while racing at speeds of 180 plus miles and hour with other cars on all sides. A confused mental state due to anxiety can be fatal.
A football player that is underaroused and slow off the mark or running to his target will get beat time after time by their opponents. Overarousal can result in dropped catches by not watching the ball into their hands or running before the ball is under control.
A tennis player who gets off to a sluggish start or is too wound up and makes early errors has time to make a comeback if he/she doesn't get too far behind in the match. But this takes energy away from the player which can affect him/her towards the end of the tournament.
Do you know your optimal arousal state for your sport?
