The role of social interaction during pre-performance routines : An individual zones of optimal functioning (IZOF) perspective

<p>Music Performance Anxiety (MPA) is a common problem for musicians. Many musicians struggle with performance anxiety and rely on traditional de-arousal interventions to reduce performance anxiety before public performance. However, research in sports psychology suggests that anxiety reduction may not be the most appropriate strategy for intervention (Chamberlain & Hale, 2007). According to the Individual Zone of Optimal Functioning (IZOF) model proposed by Hanin, an athlete’s performance is successful when his or her pre-competition anxiety is within or near the individual’s optimal zone (Hanin, 2000). Based on the application of the IZOF theory in the context of piano performance, anxiety plays an important role in optimizing performance in music as well. This pilot study identified participants’ IZOFs with the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory (CSAI-2). Support was found for Hanin’s IZOF theory with respect to the SA (somatic anxiety) and SC (self-confidence) dimensions for both of the participating pianists, as well as the CA (cognitive anxiety) dimension of pianist A but not for the CA dimension of pianist B. Piano performances associated with anxiety of an intensity that fell within the IZOF were observed to be significantly better than piano performances associated with anxiety intensity outside the IZOF. All the peak performances were presented within the IZOFs. The study verified that the IZOF model can be applied in MPA management and may help pianists be more aware of in-zone/out-zone states and rethink their attitudes toward performance anxiety. With this pilot study as a foundation, larger scale research can be conducted to clarify the correlation between anxiety and optimal piano performance.</p>

The aim of this study was to examine the impact of emotions on athletic performance within the frameworks of the Individual Zones of Optimal Functioning (IZOF) model and the directional perception approach. Intensity, functional impact, and hedonic tone of trait and state anxiety, self-confidence, idiosyncratic emotions, and bodily symptoms were assessed in high-level Italian swimmers and track and field athletes (N = 56). Three standards of performance (poor, average, and good), derived from retrospective self-ratings across one to three competitions (a total of 90 observations), were used as independent variables in the analysis of variance of intensity, intra-individual, and direction scores of anxiety, self-confidence, idiosyncratic emotions, and bodily symptoms. Subsequently, intra-individual scores were categorized as near to or distant from optimal/dysfunctional zones and entered as the independent variable in the analysis of direction scores. The results provided support for the predictions stemming from both the IZOF model and the directional approach, as well as help in interpreting direction of anxiety and other idiosyncratic emotions within the IZOF framework. Athletes tended to perceive emotional levels approximating an individual's optimal zone as facilitative–pleasant, and emotional levels approximating an individual's dysfunctional zone as debilitative–unpleasant.

Individual patterns of positive-negative affect (PNA) were studied in 25 Olympic level soccer players (age 17-21). Recall idiographic scaling following the methodology of the individual Zones of Optimal Functioning (IZOF) model was used to identify PNA items related to each player's effective and ineffective game performance. Individual zones for each item were then estimated on the Borg's Category Ratio (CR-10) scale. Optimal and non-optimal PNA patterns were revealed in the selection of idiosyncratic items, their intensity ranges and functions. All PNA items were functionally either facilitating (23.1%), debilitating (42.3%), or both (34.6%). Significant differences in PNA content and intensity (zones) were revealed only at intra- and inter-individual but not at the group level. Pre-game negative ineffective affect in successful players anticipated two days before the important tournament deviated more from non-optimal zones than in less successful players. The data support the findings obtained in ice-hockey and extend Hanin's IZOF model to performance PNA in soccer. Implications for idiographic assessments and application of the IZOF model in team sports are suggested.

The individual zones of optimal functioning (IZOF) model is a sport-specific framework that describes the relationship between emotional experiences and relative success in sporting tasks on the basis of individual rather than group-based patterns. Initially developed by the psychologist Juri Hanin in the 1970s, the number of published studies using the model has since significantly grown and diversified. In an effort to create a comprehensive database of IZOF research and reviews, a literature search was conducted using several databases and existing reference lists. This analysis yielded a total of 183 IZOF-based publications (from 380 compiled). The list of publications was subdivided into several categories including general reviews (N = 25), assessment and methodology (N = 13), peer-reviewed and research papers involving samples ranging from elite athletes to physical education students (N = 120). Twenty-five studies were related to communication or interpersonal relationships, coaching and optimisation of performance. Future IZOF research directions will focus on multimodal profiling of athletes’ performance-related emotional and non-emotional experiences, and assessment of individually optimal performance.

The purpose of this study was to examine Jones' (1991) directionality hypothesis and Hanin's (2000) individual zone of optimal functioning model. Swimmers' performance was examined to determine if cognitive and somatic anxiety was within cognitive and somatic individual zones of optimal functioning (IZOFs). Direction of cognitive and somatic anxiety was examined to determine if anxiety within IZOFs would be reported as facilitative to performance. One 3×3 (cognitive anxiety X somatic anxiety) ANOVA was calculated using ipsative t scores as the performance dependent variable. Two separate one factor ANOVAs for cognitive anxiety and somatic anxiety were calculated using ipsatized cognitive and somatic direction scores as the dependent variables. Results indicated support for Hanin's IZOF theory relative to intensity of cognitive anxiety, however, interpretations of anxiety within IZOFs failed to provide support for the directional hypothesis. Results are explained via examination of extant anxiety-performance and directionality literature. Potential limitations and implications for future research are discussed.

The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of music on swimmers’ preperformance psychobiosocial states. A purposeful sample of competitive swimmers (N = 17) participated in a 5-week intervention grounded in the individual zones of optimal functioning (IZOF) model. Findings showed that (a) preperformance psychobiosocial states differentiated between best and worst performances, (b) swimmers improved their ability to regulate preperformance states through the use of music, and (c) the use of music had a positive impact on swimmers’ perceived effectiveness of preperformance routines. Furthermore, swimmers’ qualitative reports indicated that music use was made more purposeful due to the introduction of a music intervention. The current study provides preliminary evidence in support of the use of music during preperformance routines as an effective tool to regulate athletes’ preperformance states. Athletes are encouraged to engage in the process of carefully selecting music in accordance with individualized profiles related to optimal performance states.

Individual zone of optimal functioning (IZOF) is a psychological model studied and applied to quantify athletes’ anxiety and predicts their achievement in sports competitions. This study aimed to determine the application of the IZOF model to evaluate music performance anxiety (MPA) in pianists because the causes of anxiety in athletes and musicians may be similar. A total of 30 college-level piano-major students were included in the study, and the anxiety level in performance was scored by the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 questionnaire. In the first phase, participants recalled and self-scored the four important performances in the past year. Notably, seven piano teachers scored the performances. Both results were combined to identify the individual IZOF zone. Each student showed different anxiety scores for cognitive state anxiety (CA), somatic state anxiety (SA), and self-confidence (SC). In the second phase, all participants scored their anxiety level 1 day before the final performance, and the same judges evaluated the performance immediately afterward. A total of 60% of the participants who had at least two subscales inside the IZOF received performance scores greater than 90. In conclusion, the IZOF model provides information for both piano teachers and pianists to help review their anxiety intensity and predict their performance scores to some extent.

Conceptual Framework: The Individual Zone of Optimal Functioning (IZOF) model postulates the functional relationship between emotions and optimal performance, and aims at predicting the quality of upcoming performance with respect to the pre-performance emotional state of the performer. Several limitations associated with the current direct method of determining the IZOF are outlined, and a new probabilistic approach is introduced instead. In order to reliably postulate the boundaries of the IZOF based on probabilistic curve thresholds, performance outcomes varying in quality, and the emotional intensity associated with them, are taken into account. Several probabilistic models are presented varying in their complexity, and hypothetical and real data are used to illustrate the concept.FIGURE: Probability curves for approximating the range of emotions associated with Individual Zone of Optimal Functioning (IZOF) and the Individual Zone of Dysfuntioning (IZDY)

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention programme in the physical education setting designed to change attitudes and emotions triggered by potentially risky motor tasks. The individual zones of optimal functioning (IZOF) model was used as a theoretical framework for the study. Italian male and female high school students (N = 84) took part in a 12 lesson intervention and in test – retest sessions. The assessment was conducted using the Motor Activity Anxiety Test to measure the students' approach-avoidance attitudes in the face of physical education tasks purported to engender strong emotional reactions. An idiosyncratic emotional profile was also implemented using a list of pleasant/unpleasant emotional adjectives. Two experimental groups were involved in the learning and performing of several potentially risky, highly emotion-arousing tasks, while two control groups were engaged in low-risk team sports. According to the hypothesis of the study, the programme was effective in decreasing the students' avoidance tendencies towards thrilling tasks and in increasing optimal – pleasant emotions. Our findings also demonstrated the feasibility and utility of applying the IZOF model to the context of physical education.

According to the individual zones of optimal functioning (IZOF) model, an athlete's performance is successful when his or her pre-competition anxiety is within or near the individually optimal zone. When anxiety falls outside the optimal zone, performance deteriorates. The model also suggests that skilled athletes are aware of, and are able to accurately recall and anticipate, their pre-competition anxiety. A meta-analysis of 19 studies from 1978 to 1997 (146 effect sizes based on 6387 participants) was conducted to examine the validity of the assumptions regarding the in-out of the zone notion and the accuracy of recalls and anticipatory measures of anxiety. The findings provide fairly good empirical support for the IZOF anxiety model, with an overall effect size (d) for the in-out of the zone notion of d = +0.44 (41 effect sizes, n = 3175). In other words,the performance of athletes who were within their individually optimal zones were almost one-half a standard deviation unit better than that of athletes who were outside their zones. Furthermore, both effect sizes (r w ) for accuracy of precompetition anxiety measures, recall (r w = +0.71, 24 effect sizes, n = 369) and anticipatory r w = +0.69, 81 effect sizes, n = 2843), exceeded the 'large effect' suggested for correlations by Cohen. The implications for future research extending the IZOF model to a wider range of positive and negative emotions are discussed.

1517 Hanin's (1980) Individual zones of optimal functioning (IZOF) theory contends that for each individual there exist a specific range, or zone, of state anxiety that is most conductive to superior performance. However, comparable information is not available in junior divers. PURPOSE: The intent of this study was to test the efficacy of Hanin's IZOF theory to explain the relationship between precompetition anxiety (PCA) and performance with 22 junior divers having different nationalities (14 Japanese and 8 American). METHODS: Each diver first completed the state version of the SATI (Japanese or English version, Form X-1) utilizing the standard instructional set, and this served as a baseline measure. Then divers performed retrospective recall of past competition modeled after a protocol described by Hanin. This was achieved by having the divers fill out the state version of SATI three separate time on the basis of how they recall feeling immediately before the:(a) best, (b) worst, (c) best of the most difficult dive during their previous season. RESULTS: The result indicated that PCA was significantly greater than baseline for recall of best, worst, best of the most difficult dive performances (P<0.05). In accordance with IZOF theory, considerable variation was found in the range of recalled best PCA (IZOF) and 72.7% of divers reported performing best at either low or high levels of PCA. In the contrast of cultural difference, while Japanese showed significant elevation in PCA for all recalled conditions, American elevated PCA only in the recalled worst condition (P<0.05). In addition, Japanese possessed higher recalled best PCA than that of American's (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These findings support Hanin's Individual Zones of Optimal Functioning Theory despite of the cultural difference. It possibly imply that coaches and divers should maintain their PCA level within their IZOF to perform best rather than merely lowering PCA levels for all divers that is generally used in relaxation technique based on the Inverted-U hypothesis.

The accuracy of athletes in recalling precompetition anxiety was tested using the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2. Young and adolescent female gymnastics and field hockey athletes (N = 34) were tested one hour precompetition and again 48 hours postcompetition (with instructions to recall precompetition feelings). Correlations were significantly different (weaker) than when the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory was used within the same time frame (Harger &amp; Raglin, 1994). After establishing individual “zones” around actual state anxiety values, based on individual zone of optimal functioning (IZOF) theory (Hanin, 1980, 1986, 1989), it was determined that the weaker correlations in the present study translated into enough incorrect in-zone/out-of-zone assessments that two-day recall, using the CSAI-2, may not be useful for IZOF research and practice. The necessity to further this research with other samples and sports was emphasized. The possibility of using alternate methods was discussed in an effort to provide accurate, minimally intrusive state anxiety measurement which may, ultimately, guide practitioners in effective intervention design through the use of IZOF, multidimensional anxiety theory, and the specific-effects (matching) hypothesis.

Working within an Individual Zone of Optimal Functioning (IZOF) framework: Consultant practice and athlete reflections on refining emotion regulation skills

Effects of a precompetitive anxiety regulation system, based upon tenets of the individual zones of optimal functioning (IZOF) model, multidimensional anxiety theory, and the specific-effects hypothesis, were tested. In Phase I, case studies (3 elite adolescent tennis players) were used to analyze the IZOF model within a multidimensional state anxiety framework. In Phase II, the effectiveness of a precompetitive anxiety regulation system, based upon IZOF and the specific-effects hypothesis, was tested for enhancing match performance. Essential elements of IZOF theory were supported. In Phase II, inzone/out-of-zone A-state assessment was used to guide athletes’ treatment selections. After training athletes in prematch psychological skills designed to regulate specific cognitive state anxiety, somatic state anxiety, and state selfconfidence dimensions, posttreatment performances yielded higher values (ps &lt; .05) than pretreatment. The need to replicate findings through different sample types, sports, and expertise levels was emphasized. Concerns with intrusion into athletes’ precompetitive routines were discussed.

Recall and direct methods to determine the individual zone of optimal functioning (IZOF) cannot account for potential individual differences in the span of optimal anxiety. Accordingly, an attempt was made to test a graphical technique that could establish the span of optimal anxiety ranges for individuals. State anxiety (STAI; Spielberger, Gorusch, & Lushene, 1970; and CSAI-2; Martens, Burton, Vealey, Bump, & Smith, 1990) was assessed before competitions (10 to 20) in six Spanish golfers during a season. Performance in each match was determined using golf scores and self-ratings. Optimal anxiety ranges were established graphically by plotting individual scores of precompetition anxiety against individual performance values. Optimal ranges were also determined using Hanin's (1986, 1989) direct and recall methods. The efficacy of each method was contrasted by comparing performance between cases in which the golfers possessed optimal or non-optimal anxiety according to each method. More of the golfers performed better when competing within an IZOF established with the graphic procedures than with the other methods.