(5) Sport Psychology

Question 1

What is a common misconception about sports psychologists?

Answer 1

They are clinical psychologists

Question 2

Fundamental principle of sport psychology

Answer 2

Mind controls the body

Question 3

What is optimal absolute performance based on?

Answer 3

Genetics + physiology

Question 4

What are training regimens designed to improve?

Answer 4

Absolute function

Question 5

Will training regimens impact everyone the exact same?

Answer 5

No, disproportionately help athletes with bette physiological capacities

Question 6

What are external factors of performance?

Answer 6

Temperature, wind, venue etc.

Question 7

What are internal factors on performance?

Answer 7

Physical (injury, fatigue, etc.) or mental (focus, attention, anxiety)

Question 8

What are the results of optimal stress/adrenaline production?

Answer 8

Peak performance

Question 9

What are the results of too much anxiety/adrenaline?

Answer 9

Impairment of fine motor function, blood flow disrupted, impaired decision making, tense muscles

Question 10

What are the results of too little stress/adrenaline?

Answer 10

Does not stimulate performance

Question 11

Cognitive anxiety

Answer 11

Impairs cognitive function, impacts decision making

Question 12

What behavioural therapy can be used to help relieve athlete’s anxiety

Answer 12

CBT

Question 13

Somatic anxiety control

Answer 13

Helps regulate autonomic arousal abdominal associated physiological changes

Question 14

Individualized therapy

Answer 14

Psych impediments unique to each individual, sports psychologist helps remove impediments

Question 15

Outcome of the biofeedback stress report (Canadian speedskaters)

Answer 15

Met with groups of professionals every week for 3 years and were taught self-regulation competencies -> improvement in individual/team rankings

Question 16

Why does the underdog win sometimes?

Answer 16

Less pressure on underdog, more on predicted winner

Question 17

Optimal Feedback Control

Answer 17

Accomplish goal with minimum cost to energy

Question 18

3 aspects of optimal feedback control

Answer 18

• Forward model
• State estimation
• Optimal control

Question 19

Forward model (optimal feedback control)

Answer 19

Accurately predict consequences of action (movements too fast for sensory feedback)

Question 20

State estimation (optimal feedback control)

Answer 20

Combine prediction + sensory experience to judge current state

Question 21

Optimal control

Answer 21

Sensorimotor feedback loop to maximize performance after balancing cost and reward

Question 22

Cerebellum for sports

Answer 22

Adjust movement in response to changes in stimulus

Question 23

Parietal cortex for sports

Answer 23

Incorporate predictions and sensory feedback

Question 24

Basal ganglia for sports

Answer 24

cost vs goal calculation

Question 25

Trial and error learning

Answer 25

• Update skill based on losses
• Coach helps refine parameters for practice

Question 26

Athletes and delayed reward

Answer 26

Practice isn’t reward, most athletes have largest weight on final reward

Question 27

Changes in primary sensory cortex

Answer 27

• map extension
• sharpening of neural tuning
• changes in response of neurons

Question 28

Changes in primary motor cortex

Answer 28

map extension

Question 29

Changes in cognition

Answer 29

Automatic processing (sport actions –> automatic)

Question 30

False ceiling in hobbyists

Answer 30

Hobbyists achieve automaticity when task is enjoyable and stop there

Question 31

Nurture (sports)

Answer 31

Deliberate practice = skilled performance

Question 32

Nature (sports)

Answer 32

Individual differences despite same practice

Question 33

What were the findings of the winning vs losing UEFA teams study

Answer 33

All psychological factors that influence winning/losing

Question 34

Implicit motivation

Answer 34

unconscious calculation of effort vs reward

Question 35

explicit motivation

Answer 35

Response to external reward

Question 36

True or false, implicit and explicit motivations can contradict each other

Answer 36

True

Question 37

Self-determination theory

Answer 37

People are inherently/proactively motivated to master social environment

Question 38

Hierarchical model of motivation

Answer 38

Intrinsic motivation (accomplishment), extrinsic motivation (reward/punishment), amotivation (helplessness)

Question 39

Achievement goal theory

Answer 39

How you conceptualize ability in competitive situation impacts goal orientation