exercise science A+Level final exam
What are the specific areas of study in exercise and sport psychology? - ANS-- the
study of cognition, emotion, and behaviors that are related to the perceptual and
objective changes in cardiovascular fitness, muscular strength and endurance, flexibility,
and body composition. - the application of psychological principles to performance in the
areas of sport and athletic competition.
- recent study focuses on behavioral strategies in physical activity and health promotion.
Describe the first experimental research study that directly impacted exercise and sport
psychology. - ANS-Norman Triplett published the first true experimental study that was
directly linked to exercise and sport psychology. He based his study through his interest
in how direct competition between two individuals affected performance. Triplett
observed that when two individuals competed against each other, a social factor that
seemed to motivate cyclists to perform better existed that was not observed when
individuals performed alone.
What are the primary professional organizations in exercise and sport psychology? -
ANS-- International Society of Sport Psychology (founded in 1965) - North American
Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity (NASPSPA) (founded in
1967)
- Association for Applied Sport Psychology (APA) (established in 1985)
Name the primary research journals in exercise and sport psychology. - ANS-- The
International Journal of Sport Psychology (1970)
- The Journal of Sport Psychology (1979) -soon began publication as the Journal of
Sport and Exercise Psychology in 1988
- The Journal of Applied Sport Psychology (1989)
Describe how personality plays a role in exercise, sport, and athletic competition. -
ANS-- important role in the behaviors that individuals exhibit during participation in
physical activity, exercise, sport, and athletic competition because it can influence the
individual's success.
- In Hans J. Eysenck's Dispositional Approach theory, successful athletes have
enhanced personality traits of self-confidence, better abilities to retain optimal
competition focus in response to obstacles and distractions, efficient self-regulate
activation, have more positive thoughts, images, and feelings about sport, and are more
highly determined and committed to excellence in their sport.
,What two personality characteristics are strong predictors of exercise behavior? -
ANS-Individuals who possess confident characteristics in their physical abilities are
likely to exercise more than those who are less physically confident. - Secondly,
individuals who express self-motivation characteristics are more likely to begin and
continue with regular exercise, where less motivated individuals are more likely to
never start regular exercise or discontinue a program that has been started.
Describe the difference between extrinsic and intrinsic motivation as they relate to
participation in physical activity and exercise. - ANS-Extrinsic motivation is the
predominant influence that occurs when individuals engage in a certain behavior to gain
some external reward from that participation.
Intrinsic motivation is the predominant factor when an individual engages in behavior
because the individual enjoys the process and gains pleasure and satisfaction from that
participation.
How does self-efficacy influence performance in sport and athletic competition? -
ANS-Self-efficacy influences performance in sport and athletic competition due to the
fact that when self-efficacy is enhanced, an individual will be confident with the situation
or activity they are involved in. along with the confidence that comes with an enhanced
self-efficacy, it also influences individuals choices of activity, effort exerted in the activity,
and persistence in the activity when forced with challenges. However, an individual may
also possess a decrease in self-efficacy. This could influence performance in a negative
way where the individual may let nerves get to them, or be self-conscious while
conducting the activity.
What individual characteristics do chronic exercisers display? - ANS-Individuals who are
characterized as chronic exercisers have higher perceptions of individual control over
their own health, or internal locus of causality, and more control over exercise behavior.
Describe why a level of arousal that is too high can adversely affect performance. -
ANS-A level of arousal that is too high can adversely affect performance from equating
all stressors with negative reactions, resulting in arousal being equated with anxiety. If
an individual becomes too aroused, it may result in a decrease in performance. As seen
in the Inverted U hypothesis, there is a point where arousal exceeds the usual limit,
where the performance can be seen to decline. Individuals who are more highly
aroused in normal situation would not be able to tolerate much additional arousal
without an adverse effect on performance.
Why is attention difficult to study during a sport or athletic competition? - ANS-Attention
, is difficult to study during a sport or athletic competition due to the fact that there is no
uniform strategy for studying it and because many of the methodologies for studying
attention involve the intentional description of performance at some level. Additionally, if
arousal is too high, attention can become so narrow that the individual misses important
information that is central to the performance of the skill or task at hand.
Describe how acute and chronic exercise might influence an individual's level of anxiety
or depression. - ANS-Acute and chronic exercises have the potential to influence
psychological moods and emotions. Acute bouts of physical activity and exercise and
participation in regular exercise programs reduce state and trait levels of anxiety. Both
aerobic exercise and resistance exercise training can reduce anxiety levels, with
aerobic exercise producing anxiety reductions similar to other commonly used anxiety
treatments. Depending on the level of anxiety, as little as five minutes of exercise may
have a positive impact. Moreover, both aerobic exercise and resistance exercise
training can reduce depression. Exercise produces larger antidepressant effects when
the training program is at least nine weeks in duration and does not depend on changes
in fitness level.
List five factors or characteristics that physical activity and exercise should possess to
impact an individual's mood. - ANS-1. Performing rhythmic abdominal breathing 2.
Relative absence of interpersonal communication
3. Performing closed and predictable activities that allow for preplanned movement
4. Performing 20 minutes of a moderate-intensity physical activity and exercise 5.
Performing activities that are enjoyable
Describe how exercise enhances psychological well-being according to distraction
theory - ANS-exercise provides a distraction from the normal everyday occurrences that
often lead to stress and negative emotions, allowing individuals to focus on things other
than those factors leading to stress and negative emotion.
Describe how exercise enhances psychological well-being according to endorphin
theory - ANS-during exercise, endorphin concentrations are increased and remain
elevated for some time after the exercise is finished.
Describe how exercise enhances psychological well-being according to thermogenic
theory - ANS-exercise of sufficient intensity and/or duration will result in an elevation of
body temperature, which in turn will result in a variety of positive changes such as a
reduction in muscle tension after exercise and other psychological changes.