CSCS Quiz Chapter 8

Eustress refers to positive stress that is beneficial for an individual as it provides them with the motivation and energy to perform well. Unlike distress, which causes anxiety and tension, eustress is characterized by feelings of excitement and enthusiasm. It is a form of stress that can enhance performance and promote personal growth. Eustress is associated with increased focus, improved cognitive function, and a sense of accomplishment. It is important to note that while distress can be harmful to one's well-being, eustress is a healthy and necessary aspect of life.

Trait anxiety refers to a stable personality characteristic where individuals consistently perceive situations as threatening and are prone to experiencing state anxiety. This means that individuals with high trait anxiety are more likely to interpret various situations as threatening, leading to increased levels of state anxiety. In the context of athletes, trait anxiety can influence their perception of competitive situations, making them more susceptible to experiencing anxiety before and during competitions.

Mental imagery is a cognitive skill where the athlete uses all of their senses in order to create a mental experience with their mind. This involves visualizing and imagining specific movements, actions, or scenarios in order to enhance performance. By mentally rehearsing and visualizing success, athletes can improve their skills, build confidence, and reduce anxiety. Mental imagery allows athletes to mentally practice and prepare for various situations, helping them to better execute their actions and strategies during actual competition.

Positive reinforcement is the act of increasing the probability of occurrence of a given behavior by following it with a positive action, object, or event such as praise, decals, or awards. This means that when a desired behavior is exhibited, a positive stimulus is added to encourage the repetition of that behavior in the future. It is a form of reward-based learning that strengthens and encourages the desired behavior.

The term "state" in this context refers to a temporary or situational form of anxiety. It is characterized by a specific event or situation that triggers feelings of apprehension and uncontrolled arousal. Unlike trait anxiety, which is a more stable and enduring characteristic of an individual, state anxiety is a subjective experience that can vary in intensity and duration depending on the circumstances.

The ideal performance state involves all of the following except a full stomach and comfortable shoes. This is because a full stomach and comfortable shoes do not directly contribute to the mental and physical state required for optimal performance. The absence of fear, narrow focus of attention, sense of personal control, and distortion of time and space are all factors that are commonly associated with the ideal performance state.

Selective attention is commonly referred to by athletes as their level of focus and refers to the suppression of task-irrelevant stimuli and thoughts. It is the ability to concentrate on a specific task or stimulus while ignoring distractions. Athletes often need to block out distractions and maintain their focus on the game or performance, which is why selective attention is crucial for their success. It allows them to stay in the zone and perform at their best.

In the inverted-U theory, arousal has a positive effect on performance up to a given level. This means that as arousal increases, performance also improves up to a certain point. However, beyond this optimal level of arousal, further increases in arousal can actually have a detrimental effect on performance. Therefore, the correct answer is positive, indicating that there is a positive relationship between arousal and performance up to a certain point.

Negative punishment refers to the removal of something valued in order to decrease the occurrence of a specific action. In this context, the removal of something valued serves as a consequence for the undesired behavior, making it less likely to happen again in the future. This technique is often used in behavior modification and training to discourage certain behaviors by taking away a pleasant or desired stimulus.

The ultimate goal of every athlete is to be in the Ideal Performance State. This refers to the state where an athlete is performing at their best, both mentally and physically. It is a state of optimal focus, concentration, and confidence, where the athlete is fully engaged in the present moment and able to perform at their highest level. Being in the Ideal Performance State allows athletes to achieve peak performance and reach their goals.

Self efficacy refers to an individual's belief in their own ability to successfully perform a specific task in a particular situation. It is a measure of perceived self-confidence, indicating the level of confidence a person has in their own skills, knowledge, and capabilities to accomplish a task. This concept is closely related to self-confidence but is more specific, focusing on the belief in one's own competence in a particular area.

Diaphragmatic breathing, also referred to as belly breathing, is a basic stress management technique and precursor to all other mental training techniques. This technique involves consciously engaging the diaphragm, a muscle located between the chest and abdomen, to control and deepen the breath. By focusing on deep, slow breaths that expand the belly rather than shallow chest breaths, diaphragmatic breathing promotes relaxation, reduces anxiety, and improves overall mental well-being. It is an essential foundation for various mindfulness and meditation practices, as it helps individuals become more aware of their breath and cultivate a sense of calm and presence.

Stress refers to a state of disruption from homeostasis or mental and physical calm. It can be caused by various factors known as stressors. Stressors are the external or internal stimuli that trigger the stress response and lead to the disruption of homeostasis or calmness.

Environmental anxiety does not relate to environmental circumstances. Environmental anxiety refers to the anxiety or distress caused by the state of the environment, such as concerns about pollution, climate change, or natural disasters. It is not directly related to the physical or physiological symptoms of anxiety, but rather focuses on the impact of the environment on one's mental well-being.

Achievement motivation refers to the athlete's desire or drive to engage in competition or social comparison. This motivation stems from the individual's need for achievement and the desire to succeed. It is the internal force that pushes athletes to set goals, work hard, and strive for excellence in their chosen sport. Athletes with high achievement motivation are typically more competitive, persistent, and willing to take on challenges. They seek opportunities to test their skills and abilities against others, and derive satisfaction from their accomplishments and progress.

Easterbrook's Cue Utilization theory suggests that as arousal levels increase to moderate levels, our attentional width narrows down, leading to increased focus on only the cues that are relevant to the task at hand. This means that we become more selective in what we pay attention to, filtering out distractions and irrelevant information. This narrowing of attentional focus is an adaptive mechanism that helps us prioritize and process important cues more effectively.

Broad internal attentional focus refers to the ability to effectively narrow attention, not broaden it. This means that individuals with this dispositional style are able to focus their attention on specific task-relevant information while filtering out distractions or irrelevant stimuli. They are able to concentrate and maintain a narrow focus on the task at hand, which can be beneficial in situations that require deep concentration or attention to detail.

This answer is incorrect. The correct answer is not about directing the athlete's feelings toward what others expect of them. Instead, the correct answer is that goals direct the athlete's attention by prioritizing efforts.

State anxiety refers to the temporary feelings of anxiety or nervousness that a person experiences in a specific situation. It is not a factor of influence on performance because it is a transient emotional state that can fluctuate and may not have a consistent impact on performance. In contrast, skill level, task complexity, personality, and trait anxiety are all factors that can have a more stable and direct influence on performance.

Intrinsic motivation is important because it enables the athlete to delegate responsibilities and witness success as a result of their own drive and initiative. This means that the athlete takes ownership of their actions and decisions, leading to increased self-determination. By being intrinsically motivated, the athlete becomes a self-starter, eliminating the need for constant encouragement or punishment from coaches. This allows coaches to focus on teaching relevant skills and tasks rather than spending time motivating the athletes. Overall, intrinsic motivation empowers athletes to take control of their own success and fosters a sense of autonomy.