TRAIT ANXIETY VS. STATE ANXIETY

Differences between personal predisposition and situational reaction.

In the field of performance psychology, it is essential to distinguish between two manifestations of anxiety that, although related, operate differently.

Trait anxiety refers to a stable personality characteristic; it is the general tendency of an individual to perceive non-dangerous situations as threatening.

On the other hand, state anxiety is a transient and fluctuating emotional response, triggered by a specific situation at a specific time.

Understanding this dichotomy allows the practitioner to adjust his interventions: while the trait requires background work on the personality, the state is managed with immediate regulation tools.

To illustrate this, let us imagine two chess players. Player A has low trait anxiety; he is generally calm in his daily life.

However, upon arriving at a rapid playoff (blitz) game, his state anxiety skyrockets due to the pressure of the clock and the importance of the tournament.

In contrast, Player B has high trait anxiety; he tends to worry about everything from traffic to the weather.

However, he has developed routines that keep his state anxiety under control during the game.

The psychologist must identify whether the athlete suffers from a natural disposition to worry or whether it is the specific competitive context that triggers the response.

Identification of somatic and cognitive symptoms

Anxiety manifests itself through two main channels: cognitive (mental) and somatic (physiological).

Cognitive anxiety encompasses negative thoughts, self-doubt, concern about performance and fear of social eva luation.

Somatic anxiety, on the other hand, is the perception of physiological arousal, which includes symptoms such as increased heart rate, excessive sweating, muscle tension or stomach discomfort.

It is crucial to assess which channel predominates in the athlete, as this will dictate the intervention strategy. Consider a concert pianist before going on stage.

If his anxiety is predominantly somatic, he may experience hand tremors and dry mouth, which directly affects his fine motor performance. In this case, breathing or relaxation techniques would be a priority.

On the other hand, if his anxiety is cognitive, he may be ruminating on thoughts such as "I'm going to forget the score" or "the critic in the front row is judging me."

Here, the approach would require cognitive restructuring or thought stopping.

Recognizing whether the athlete is fighting his body or his mind is the first step in regaining control.

Summary

It is critical to distinguish between trait anxiety, a stable personality trait, and state anxiety, a transient emotional response to a specific, momentary situation.

This differentiation is key for psychological intervention: while trait anxiety requires background work, state anxiety is effectively managed with immediate regulation tools.

Anxiety manifests itself through cognitive symptoms, such as mental worries, or somatic symptoms, such as physical tension. Identifying which predominates is essential to choosing the right intervention strategy.