6.1 Psychological influences on the individual (personality, attitude, arousal) Flashcards
define personality
unique psychological make-up
What is the trait theory?
- when individual is born with innate characteristics
- these are known as traits and are stable in different situations
- behaviour is consistent therefore react the same
- trait theory attempts to predict behaviour due to the expectation of behaviour
What are the problems with the trait theory?
- behaviour can’t always be predicted (e.g footballer is loud and aggressive on the pitch but calm and collected post-match)
- and it does not consider the possibility of personality change (especially after different experiences)
Give an example of the trait theory
An extroverted basketball player is extroverted in training, matches and team discussions and outside of sport is loud, bright and opinionated.
define socialisation
personality traits being developed by associating with other people and picking up their behaviour
What is the social learning approach?
- we learn our characteristics from other people (especially those we hold in high esteem)
- behaviour that’s consistently shown and seen as successful we are more likely to copy
observe –> identify –> reinforce –> copy
What is the interactionist perspective?
- this combines trait and social learning theory to predict behaviour in a specific situation
B = F(P x E)
suggests that Behaviour is a Function of Personality and the Environment
Born traits are adapted according to situation/ environment (if environment changes so does behaviour)
What is the Hollander approach? (to do with interactionist perspective)
- it suggests that personality is made of 3 features
1. core (values + beliefs)
2. typical responses (use of inherent traits)
3. role related behaviour (adapting) - the environment has an influence and increases behaviour change if there is an influence
Give an example of the Hollander approach
Football:
core - hard working
typical responses - loves to attack
role related behaviour - works hard to get back and defend
(indicated environment affects behaviour)
Define the credulous approach
you believe the theories, you accept the link that personality can predict behaviour
Define the sceptical approach
you don’t believe the theories, you doubt the link that personality can predict behaviour
What are three ways personality can be measured
- questionnaires
- interviews
- observation
advantages and disadvantages of questionnaires
adv - efficient + quick - deals with a lot of info disadv - biased answers - can misunderstand questions
advantages and disadvantages of observations
adv - true to life - during a real game disadv - subjective - behaviour change when being watched
advantages and disadvantages of interviews
adv - more depth - specific disadv - time - similar to questionnaires
define attitude
a value aimed at an attitude object
how are attitudes formed?
- through socialisation
- negative behaviour reinforces a negative attitude (vice versa)
what is the triadic model?
- cognitive - your beliefs and thoughts
- affective - your feelings or emotional responses
- behavioural - actions or intended behaviour
define cognitive dissonance
challenge to existing beliefs causing disharmony in an individual and a motivation to change attitudes
how does cognitive dissonance work within the triadic model?
- cognitive - give new information
- affective - create new emotions
- behavioural - give success/ reinforcement
define persuasive communication
effective communication to promote change
- presenting new information to change attitudes
how can persuasive communication change negative attitudes?
- persuasion from ‘perceived expert’
- making it fun
- allowing early success
- using positive reinforcement/ rewards
- pointing out the benefits of exercise
- using role models
- cognitive dissonance
define arousal
an energised state, a readiness to perform
define the zone of optimal functioning
area of controlled arousal and high performance
define the ringelmann effect
when a teams performance decreases with group size
define attentional wastage
performer concentration is misdirected to irrelevant cues, damaging performance (especially in novices)
define attentional narrowing
occurs when a performer is aroused so they focus on certain cues and ignore others
- linked to dominant response
define social loafing
individual loss of motivation in a team player due to lack of performance identification when efforts aren’t recognised
explain what the drive theory is
- linear graph
- P = f (D x H)
- more aroused = better performance
- their dominant response is habitual and is focused on when at high arousal
what is the catastrophe theory?
- when a high arousal leads to an increase in performance to an optimal point but there is a dramatic reduction in performance when arousal increases beyond the optimal
- causes: combination of somatic and cognitive anxieties
- player can only recover if initial anxiety is low and there is time
what is the inverted U theory?
- an increase in arousal leads to an increase in performance only to a moderate level, afterwhich the performance suffers
- optimal arousal is dependent on the task difficulty, personality and experience
what are the problems with the inverted U theory?
- optimal arousal might not occur at the midpoint
- one curve doesn’t explain all tasks
what happens when you are under aroused?
- poor selective attention
- lack of concentration
- social loafing
- ringelmann effect
- attentional wastage and narrowing
- poor reaction time
- peak flow experience
what happens when you are over aroused?
- poor selective attention
- lack of concentration
- poor reaction time
- attentional wastage and narrowing
- peak flow experience
- violence
- break rules
what is peak flow performance?
- ultimate intrinsic experience from a positive mental attitude with supreme confidence, focus and efficiency
what affects peak flow performance?
- failure to meet optimal arousal
- environmental influences
- injury
- fatigue
what does peak flow experience feel like?
- clear goals
- skills feel effortless
- highly focused and confident
- sub-conscious feeling of control
how can the zone of optimal functioning be reached?
- advanced cognitive techniques
e. g imagery and visualisation
what does the zone of optimal functioning feel like?
- flow effortlessly
- supreme confidence
- calm under pressure
- in total control
- results in a smooth performance
