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ScotlandPhysical Education

Mental Factors Impacting on Performance

4 dot points across 4 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

How do concentration and the level of arousal shape a performance?

Concentration and level of arousal as features of the mental factor: sustaining attention and recognising cues, the idea of an optimum level of arousal, and how lapses in concentration or arousal that is too high or too low affect performance.
An SQA Higher Physical Education answer on concentration and level of arousal as mental factors, covering sustained attention and cue recognition, the optimum level of arousal, and how lapses or over-arousal affect performance in named activities.
11 min answer →

Why does the quality and speed of decision-making decide so many performances?

Decision-making as a feature of the mental factor: how a performer selects the most appropriate response under time pressure, the influence of experience and information processing, and the impact of good and poor decision-making on performance.
An SQA Higher Physical Education answer on decision-making as a mental factor, covering how performers select and time responses, the role of experience and information processing, and how strong and weak decision-making affect performance in named activities.
11 min answer →

How do mental factors affect the way a performer thinks and performs?

The mental factors that impact on performance, including their features such as decision-making, concentration, level of arousal and mental toughness, and the positive and negative effects each can have on performance.
An SQA Higher Physical Education answer on the mental factors impacting on performance, covering their main features (decision-making, concentration, level of arousal and mental toughness) and the positive and negative effects each can have on a performer.
11 min answer →

How does mental toughness let a performer cope with pressure and setbacks?

Mental toughness as a feature of the mental factor: staying focused, confident and composed under pressure, resilience and recovering from setbacks, and the approaches used to develop it such as mental rehearsal, positive self-talk and routines.
An SQA Higher Physical Education answer on mental toughness as a mental factor, covering composure and resilience under pressure, recovery from setbacks, and the approaches (mental rehearsal, positive self-talk, routines) used to develop it.
11 min answer →