Personality
Personality: unique psychological makeup - Combination of our traits/characteristics that make us act and
behave in the way we do
In sport, each performer has their own personality profile (e.g. coping under pressure)
Personality differences has implications for the way coaches/players should approach training &
competition – understanding the influence of personality factors can help improve performance
Nature Vs Nurture debate about personality characteristics
Trait theory
This theory suggests that innate characteristics produce consistent behaviour & is predictable
Born with personality traits that are innate, fixed, stable & consistent
e.g. Extrovert = loud, bright, opinionated personality – in sport extrovert manner is seen in training,
competition & team discussions
Attempts to predict behaviour as a can expect a performer will behave in the same way in most situations
Doesn’t account for personality change – behaviour may change depending on situation (behaviour may
change during a game/post game)
Doesn’t account for experience forming personality (punishment & learned behaviour)
Social learning approach (SLT)
This theory suggests behaviour is learned from significant others
Process = socialisation: associating with others and picking up their behaviour
Role models, friends & parents
More likely to learn reinforced (successful) & consistently seen behaviour
Behaviour is more likely to be copied if witnessed live (in person)
Learn behaviour from experience
OBSERVE IDENTIFY REINFORCE COPY
e.g. Copying goal celebrations of professional footballers
Interactionist perspective
This theory combines trait + SLT to predict behaviour in a specific situation
Explains how personality develops
Genetic + environmental influences on behaviour
LEWIN APPROACH TO PERSONALITY:
Accounts for behaviour change
Individuals adapt and use their innate traits according to the situation/environment
Explains why people have different personalities in different situations
Lewin’s formula – B = (P E) – behaviour is a function of personality & environment
Innate, consistent traits are adapted to situation typical response can be predicted in similar situations
Helps coaches predict how a player will react in a specific situation
HOLLANDER APPROACH TO INTERACTIONIST THEORY:
1) Core of the performer = underlying values & beliefs of an individual; stable, solid
& not likely to change
2) Typical responses = performers usual response (use of innate traits) in a specific
situation
3) Role-related behaviour = further changes to behaviour may be needed as the
situation demands (e.g. adapting to a very specific role in certain circumstances)
o Environment influences behaviour - the more environmental influence, the more behaviour is likely to
change (neurotic/changeable traits: e.g. aggression levels depends on importance of the game)
Using the interactionist approach to improve performance
Coach can identify situations that worsen performance or cause inappropriate behaviour & create similar
situations in training so the performer can learn to cope and overcome these situations in a game
Coach can encourage players to adapt to specific circumstances & offer guidance in training about how to
cope in game situations (high-pressure where they may feel anxious), so players learn control
Coach can predict inappropriate behaviour (aggression) and remove the player from the situation to avoid
this
, Predicting behaviour in sport
Credulous approach: idea that personality can predict behaviour (link between personality & behaviour is
accepted)
Sceptical approach: idea that personality doesn’t accurately predict behaviour
Some sports psychologists are sceptical because there is no link between personality and performance,
behaviour can change & adapt during a game meaning research of personality can be unreliable and invalid.
Attitude
Attitude: a value aimed at an attitude object
‘what you think about something’ – an opinion/belief
Mental & neural state of readiness towards an attitude object
+ve attitude in sport = motivation & persistence
ve attitude in sport = lack of effort & effect team cohesion
Attitude formation
Socialisation - associating with significant others (rolemodels) and picking up their opinions and
values.
Familiarisation - becoming familiar with frequently seen attitudes & accepting them as normal
Operant conditioning = reinforcement of behaviour (e.g. praise for success = +ve attitude)
o Lack of +ve reinforcement to change behaviour can condition ve attitudes
o Encouraging +ve attitudes maintains motivation & effort
Experience
Attitude components
Triadic model: 3 components of an
attitude (CAB):
Cognitive = beliefs (what you think)
Affective = feelings/emotional
response & interpretation of these (e.g.
enjoyment)
Behavioural = actions, your intended
behaviour dependent on your attitude
(what you do, e.g. habits)
Attitude change
COGNITIVE DISSONANCE: new information given to the performer to cause unease & motivate change
Unbalancing one area of the triadic model by providing new information/putting pressure on an
attitude component
Attempts to cause conflict/unease in thinking to motivate change of an existing attitude
A coach can use this by:
o Providing new information about activities causing the performer to challenge current beliefs
o Presenting a new form of activity & pointing out the benefits (for their sport) – new experiences
o Making the activity fun & varied more enjoyable
o Using rewards and reinforcement (praise/prizes)
o Bring in a specialist (pro/role model) to encourage participation
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