🔑 Five Alternative Theories
1. Multidimensional Anxiety Theory (Martens)
Cognitive Anxiety: Negative linear relationship with performance (more anxiety = worse performance)
Somatic Anxiety: Inverted-U relationship with performance
Somatic Anxiety: Inverted-U relationship with performance
2. Catastrophe Theory
- When cognitive anxiety is LOW: somatic arousal follows inverted-U pattern
- When cognitive anxiety is HIGH: sudden catastrophic drop in performance occurs
- Explains sudden, dramatic performance declines under pressure
3. Individual Zones of Optimal Functioning (IZOF)
- Each athlete has their own optimal anxiety zone
- Performance best when within individual's zone
- Zones vary between athletes (one person's optimal may be another's too high)
4. Reversal Theory
- Athletes switch between telic (serious) and paratelic (playful) states
- Arousal interpretation changes based on mental state
- Same arousal level feels different depending on state
5. Directionality Theory
- Not just intensity of anxiety matters, but how it's interpreted
- Facilitative interpretation = anxiety helps performance
- Debilitative interpretation = anxiety hurts performance
- Elite athletes more likely to view anxiety as helpful
💡 Exam Tips
- Know all 5 theories by name
- Martens: Cognitive = linear negative, Somatic = inverted-U
- Catastrophe: High cognitive anxiety causes sudden drops
- IZOF: Individual optimal zones (personalized)
- Directionality: Interpretation matters more than intensity