Abstract
Emotional states are thought to influence athletic performance. Emotions characterized by high arousal enhance exercise performance. Extant research has focused on the valence and arousal dimensions of emotions, but not whether the motivational dimension (the extent to which the emotion engenders approach or avoidance behaviors) influences exercise performance. Two studies aimed to determine whether films and music chosen to induce approach- (i.e., anger), avoidance- (i.e., fear), and neutral-oriented emotions would successfully induce their intended emotional states (Study 1) and whether anger and fear emotion inductions would influence 2-mile time trial performance (Study 2). In Study 1, the films and music successfully induced their intended emotions. In Study 2, run time and perceived level of exertion did not differ between emotions across all participants or among faster running participants per a median split. However, among slower running participants, the anger induction increased the 2-mile running speed relative to the neutral induction. These findings suggest that emotions eliciting approach-related motivational states may improve exercise performance, particularly in slower runners.
Highlights
Emotional states are thought to influence athletic performance
Among slower running participants, the anger induction increased the 2-mile running speed relative to the neutral induction. These findings suggest that emotions eliciting approach-related motivational states may improve exercise performance, in slower runners
Sample size estimation was based on effect sizes from Lane et al (2010) who found that emotional states were associated with optimal and dysfunctional performance
Summary
Emotional states are thought to influence athletic performance. Crosssectional studies suggest that precompetitive emotional states are associated with perceived athletic performance. Emotional states perceived as under control were thought to facilitate swimming performance, whereas those perceived as out of control were thought to hinder performance (Hanton and Connaughton, 2002). Certain pleasant emotions such as interest and enjoyment and certain unpleasant emotions such as sadness, guilt, and self-hostility predicted perceived athletic performance (Cerin, 2003). Precompetitive unpleasant feelings of anger, confusion, depression, fatigue, and tension were associated with greater dysfunctional than optimal performance, whereas pleasant feelings of calmness, happiness, and vigor were associated with greater optimal than dysfunctional performance (Lane et al, 2010).
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