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Yerkes-Dodson Law Avoid Sports Performance Or Skill Stress?

Decent Essays

Grace Getman
Mr.Bewley
Phys Ed 11-12 - 6
12 October 2016
Sports Performance or Skill Performance Stress
In a world filled with mental, emotional, and physical pressures, it can be difficult to find balance. However, it is crucial to not let stress become overwhelming, as it can quickly interfere with sports and skill performances if given the chance. The first part of not letting stress dominate is understanding it and related concepts, such as the Yerkes-Dodson Law. The second part is utilizing stress-reducing techniques such as meditation and t'ai thi ch’uan. The two together work to significantly reduce the role negative stress plays one’s life.
At first, the Yerkes-Dodson Law seems counterintuitive. The law states that until a certain point, increased stress will help with a performance. After that critical threshold(which varies), stress will begin to impair that same performance. It is posited that the stress initially helps as it creates motivation and willpower, but then becomes overwhelming. It was discovered in 1908 when psychologists Robert Yerkes and John Dillingham Dodson found that mild electrical shocks could motivate rats to complete a maze, but when the electrical …show more content…

Health-wise, tai chi has earned a reputation as a stress reduction technique for its gentle, flowing, movements with an emphasis on focus and deep breathing. This is helpful for lessening stress as a singular focus can cause nonessential worries to melt away. It also helps to reduce more important stresses by maintaining calm through deep breathing and providing endorphins(which cause feelings of happiness) through gentle exercise. This technique can provide space for better focus and relaxation by pushing away negative pressure. Performing this activity before stressful activities such as public speaking clears the clutter of the mind and allows one to be their best

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