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SUMMARY Sport and Performance Psychology - Literature and Articles
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Sport and Performance PsychologyLiterature
Week 1
Chapter 1: Introducing sport psychology
Introduction to Sport Psychology
• Sport and the Mind: Many athletes and coaches believe that while sports are played
physically, they are won mentally. Notable athletes like Novak Djokovic and Tiger Woods
emphasize the importance of mental strength in achieving success, particularly in high-
pressure situations where physical and technical abilities are equal.
• Use of Sport Psychologists: Increasingly, athletes, coaches, and teams seek the expertise of
sport psychologists to gain a competitive edge. This consultation is not just about performance
enhancement but also about coping with stress and personal issues.
• Narrative Psychology: Recent research, such as narrative inquiry, focuses on athletes’
personal stories to understand how psychological factors influence their performance and
well-being.
The Mental Side of Sport
• Four Dimensions of Athletic Performance: Athletic performance is often divided into
physical (strength, endurance), technical (proficiency with which athletes can execute
fundamental skills required by their specialist sport), tactical (strategic decision-making), and
psychological (mental processes like focus and confidence).
• Paradox of psychology in sport: How can something be familiar yet mysterious?
• Mental Processes in Sport: Psychological factors, such as concentration and resilience, are
often what separate elite athletes from less successful competitors. These factors, particularly
mental toughness, play a crucial role in achieving peak performance.
Confidence and Mental Toughness
• Confidence: Confidence, or the belief in one’s abilities to succeed, is highly correlated with
athletic performance. It is considered a cornerstone of mental toughness and is often seen as
the most fragile yet vital mental component in sports.
o The belief that one has the capacity to “execute the courses of action required to
produce given attainments” – or, put simply, to achieve a specific goal.
• Robustness of Confidence: The Trait Robustness of Self-Confidence Inventory (TROSCI) is
one tool used to measure how athletes maintain their confidence in the face of adversity.
• Mental Toughness: Mental toughness involves determination, resilience, and a strong ability
to cope with pressure. It is considered key to success in sports but remains complex to define
and measure.
Development of Mental Toughness
• Athletes’ Experiences: Mental toughness often develops through experience, including both
victories and losses. Research shows that mental toughness is built through a combination of
challenging environments, motivation, and the use of psychological strategies.
, • Theoretical Models: The 4Cs model (Clough et al., 2002) proposes that mental toughness
consists of control, challenge, commitment, and confidence. However, defining and measuring
mental toughness remains a challenge, with various theories and models offering different
perspectives.
o Control: the capacity to feel and act as if one could exert an influence in the situation
in question
o Challenge: the habit of perceiving potentially stressful situations as positive
opportunities rather than as threats
o Commitment or stickability
o Confidence: a strong belief in one’s ability to complete a task successfully
• Combining these four elements, Clough et al. (2002) defined mentally tough athletes as people
who have “a high sense of self-belief and an unshakeable faith that they can control their own
destiny” and who can “remain relatively unaffected by competition or adversity” (Clough et
al., 2002, p. 38).
• In seeking to enhance mental toughness in young players, coaches emphasized the importance
of developing two characteristics: independence and resourcefulness (e.g. through increasing
self-awareness and encouraging reflection).
• Anthony et al. proposed that the development of mental toughness requires an approach that
addresses the interaction between an individual’s personal capacity (i.e. person) and varying
degrees of situational demands (i.e. context).
Critical Thinking and Mental Toughness
• Developing Critical Thinking Skills: Students are encouraged to critically evaluate claims
about mental toughness by examining the scientific evidence and potential biases.
Understanding the validity of studies and the limitations of existing research is essential for a
nuanced view of sport psychology concepts.
Mental Demands of Different Sports
• Differences Between Sports: Various sports place different mental demands on athletes. For
instance, weightlifting requires short bursts of intense concentration, while marathon running
demands prolonged mental endurance. The structure of a sport greatly influences the
psychological challenges athletes face.
• Examples: Snooker players, for instance, must maintain concentration while waiting
passively, while golfers deal with the stop-start nature of the game, requiring them to manage
extended periods of reflection and anticipation.
History of Sport Psychology
• Origins of the Discipline: Sport psychology has roots dating back to the late 19th century.
Early studies, such as Triplett’s (1898) research on social facilitation in cycling, showed that
athletes performed better when competing against others than when alone.
• Global Development: The field gained formal recognition in the 1960s with the establishment
of organizations like the International Society of Sport Psychology (1965). Since then, sport
psychology has grown into a recognized discipline with both scientific and applied
dimensions.
,Research Methods in Sport Psychology
• Methodologies: Sport psychology uses a range of research methods, including descriptive,
correlational, and experimental techniques. Qualitative methods, such as interviews and focus
groups, have become increasingly popular for understanding athletes' personal experiences
and mental strategies.
• Single-Case Designs: This method is particularly valuable in applied sport psychology, where
interventions are tested on individual athletes to assess their effectiveness.
Sport Psychology as a Profession
• Roles of Sport Psychologists: Sport psychologists work in various settings, including
performance enhancement, stress management, and promoting general well-being. Their work
extends beyond sports and includes business environments where psychological techniques
are applied.
Article Defining the Practice of Sport and Performance Psychology
Introduction to Sport and Performance Psychology (SPP)
• The article opens by framing Sport and Performance Psychology (SPP) as an applied
discipline rooted in psychological theory but uniquely focused on enhancing human
performance in both athletic and non-athletic domains.
• The definition of SPP emphasizes that it is not only concerned with helping athletes achieve
peak performance but also supporting performers in other high-stress environments such
as the performing arts, business, and military.
• The authors highlight the growing recognition of mental aspects as key determinants of
success in competitive environments, thus underscoring the importance of integrating
psychological principles with physical training.
Evolution and Development of SPP
• Historical Roots: The article traces the roots of SPP back to early studies of human
performance, notably those of Coleman Griffith, often referred to as the "father of sport
psychology." His work in the 1920s focused on applying psychological principles to improve
athletic performance, marking the birth of this field.
• Professionalization of the Field: The creation of professional organizations such as the
Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP) and the American Psychological
Association’s Division 47 formalized the practice of SPP, setting standards for training,
practice, and ethical conduct.
• Early Research and Influence: The article notes how early research in fields like motor
learning, coaching behavior, and team dynamics influenced the establishment of SPP as a
legitimate discipline in applied psychology.
Core Components of SPP Practice
• Assessment: The article emphasizes the importance of assessing individual psychological
needs before designing interventions. Practitioners use a variety of tools, including
psychometric tests, interviews, and observation, to understand the mental strengths and
weaknesses of athletes or performers.
, o Commonly used assessment tools include performance profiling and standardized
questionnaires, such as the Mental Toughness Questionnaire or the Test of
Performance Strategies (TOPS).
• Mental Skills Training: The article identifies mental skills training (MST) as a cornerstone
of SPP practice. This involves teaching athletes specific techniques to enhance their
psychological readiness, such as:
o Goal-setting: Establishing clear, achievable objectives to maintain motivation and
focus.
o Imagery and Visualization: Rehearsing performance mentally to improve actual
execution.
o Self-talk: Developing positive internal dialogue to counteract negative thoughts or
self-doubt.
o Arousal Control: Managing physiological and psychological arousal levels,
particularly under pressure.
o Concentration Training: Focusing attention and eliminating distractions to maintain
peak performance.
• Performance Enhancement vs. Well-being: While SPP focuses heavily on enhancing
performance, the article stresses that the mental health and well-being of the performer are
equally important. Burnout, depression, or anxiety can derail even the most talented
individuals if not addressed alongside performance enhancement strategies.
Ethics and Best Practices in SPP
• The article extensively covers ethical considerations faced by SPP practitioners, including
issues of confidentiality, competence, and dual relationships:
o Confidentiality: When working with teams, confidentiality can be a delicate issue,
especially when coaches or managers seek insights into athletes’ psychological states.
SPP practitioners must navigate this by maintaining ethical boundaries.
o Dual Relationships: Practitioners must be cautious when they occupy multiple roles
(e.g., both counselor and performance consultant), as this can complicate the therapist-
client relationship and lead to conflicts of interest.
o Competence: The article discusses how important it is for SPP practitioners to work
within their areas of expertise. Those lacking proper training in mental health, for
instance, should refrain from diagnosing or treating psychological disorders.
o Informed Consent: Before beginning any psychological intervention, it is vital to
gain informed consent from clients, ensuring they understand the methods and goals
of the training.
Theoretical Foundations of SPP
• Cognitive-behavioral Approach: The cognitive-behavioral model dominates SPP
interventions. This approach focuses on the connection between thoughts, emotions, and
behaviors, and how modifying thought patterns can lead to improved performance outcomes.
o Techniques such as cognitive restructuring (changing negative thought patterns) and
mental rehearsal (visualizing successful performance) are grounded in this approach.
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