6.1: Psychological Influences On The Individual

Question 1

What is personality?

Answer 1

• ‘unique psychological makeup’

- combination of traits/characteristics that make an individual act in the way they do

Question 2

What are the different types of theorists?

Answer 2

• trait theorists: personality is innate… within our genes.
• social learning theorists: believe we learn how to act or react
• interactionist theorists: believe it’s a bit of both - we learn our behaviour but we have our own traits

Question 3

What is trait theory?

Answer 3

• says individuals are born with certain characteristics (traits) that are stable, enduring and stay the same in different situations.
• trait theory attempts to predict behaviour as sports people are always going to act the same.

Question 4

What are the problems with trait theory?

Answer 4

• it doesn’t take into account that personality and behaviour can change with the situation.
• e.g. David Beckham (1998-2002)

Question 5

What is the social learning approach?

Answer 5

• we learn from significant others through the process called socialisation, e.g. friends, family, coaches, teachers, role models
• observe-identify-reinforce-copy
• we are more likely to learn reinforced behaviour that so successful, powerful and consistent. Behaviour is copied from others when it’s successful or loud and bright.

Question 6

What is interactionist perspective?

Answer 6

• can be seen as a combination of the best bits of trait theory and social learning approach.
• accounts for behaviour change and suggests that behaviour is adapted to suit the situation.

Question 7

What are the approaches to interactionist theories?

Answer 7

• Lewin approach

- Hollander approach

Question 8

What is the Lewin approach?

Answer 8

• ‘behaviour is a function of personality and environment’
• behaviour (B) = function (F) of personality (P) x environment (E)
  B = F (PxE)
  e.g. tennis, football, rugby

Question 9

What is the Hollander approach diagram?

Answer 9

• see flash card

Question 10

Hollander approach - how is personality layered?

Answer 10

• psychological core: beliefs, values, attitudes that are fairly permanent and unlikely to change
• typical response: the usual responses to the player would make in a given situation
• role-related behaviour - implies that future changes to behaviour may be needed as the situation demands.

Question 11

Credulous definition:

Answer 11

• when the link between personality and behaviour is accepted - as they believe personality can predict behaviour

Question 12

Sceptical definition:

Answer 12

• when the link between personality and behaviour is doubted - think that personality doesn’t accurately predict behaviour

Question 13

About being credulous:

Answer 13

• behaviour changes
• there are personality tests that predict behaviour
• elite performers are calm under presssure

Question 14

About bent sceptical:

Answer 14

• no link between personality and choice of sport

- behaviour and personality can change during the game

Question 15

How can knowledge of the interactionist perspective improve performance?

Answer 15

1) the coach could predict any potential unacceptable or aggressive behaviour. E.g. football - substituting a player if needed before getting a second yellow card
2) the coach could identify situations that cause inappropriate actions or a dropping off of performance and create similar situations in training so the player can learn to cope. E.g. a football who gets fouled a lot in matches may be fouled in training so they’re used to it
3) the coach could use the interactionist theory approach to change player behaviour by encouraging players to adapt to a specific circumstance. E.g. a coach giving advice to a penalty taker.

Question 16

Attitude definition:

Answer 16

• a value aimed at an attitude object

Question 17

Positive and negative attitudes:

Answer 17

• we learn attitudes from significant others
• positive attitude: important in giving motivation and persistence in the task
• negative attitude: can cause a lack of effort and affect the cohesion of the team

Question 18

Triadic model definition:

Answer 18

• the three parts of an attitude: cognitive, affective, behavioural

Question 19

What is the triadic model?

Answer 19

• cognitive: a belief, such as the belief to win. Knowledge of the benefits
• affective: related to feelings and interpretations such as enjoyment (emotions)
• behavioural: the actions of the performer

Question 20

Triadic model example:

Answer 20

• KS4 football to dance example:
  C: they don’t know the benefits of the dance
  A: they don’t enjoy it
  B: they don’t agent training or play
• however; they could explain why it’s beneficial/coach could relate to football or other sport/people go to training.

Question 21

Attitude change methods:

Answer 21

• cognitive dissonance

- persuasive communication

Question 22

Cognitive dissonance definition:

Answer 22

• new information given to the performer to cause unease and motivate change

Question 23

Cognitive dissonance method:

Answer 23

1) coach creates/highlights conflicts (cognitive)
- benefits of new exercise
- given new information to begin to question current attitudes
2) coach creates fun training sessions (affective)
- e.g. varied practice
3) using rewards/praise as inforcement (behavioural)
4) using role models to encourage participation

Question 24

Persuasive communication definition:

Answer 24

• an effective communication to promote change

Question 25

Persuasive communication method:

Answer 25

1) message to the performer that their attitude must change
2) message must come from a respected person (MKO)
3) message must be clear and understood (relevant)
4) timing of the message is important, e.g. easier to change a negative attitude as opposed to a positive one.

Question 26

Arousal definition:

Answer 26

• a level of activation, a degree of readiness to perform

Question 27

What are the theories of arousal?

Answer 27

• drive theory
• inverter ‘U’ theory
• catastrophe theory

Question 28

What is drive theory?

Answer 28

• as arousal increases so does performance

- see flashcard for diagram

Question 29

What is the drive theory equation?

Answer 29

• performance = function (drive x habit)

- P = f(DxH)

Question 30

What is a sporting example of drive theory?

Answer 30

• an upset in football, FA cup. A smaller team may be more shrouded and play better as they have the drive to win.

Question 31

Dominant response definition:

Answer 31

• the stand out response that the performer thinks is correct.
• as arousal increases, less information is processed and the performer tends to concentrate on the ‘dominant response’.

Question 32

Dominant response - experienced athlete:

Answer 32

• dominant response will be correct (perform better at higher arousal levels)

Question 33

Dominant response - novice:

Answer 33

• dominant response may not be developed and therefore this option chosen is likely to be incorrect or result in poor performance (perform better at lower arousal levels)

Question 34

What is the inverted ‘U’ theory?

Answer 34

• increased arousal improves performances to an optimal point at moderate levels of arousal’
• see flashcard for diagram

Question 35

What is catastrophe theory?

Answer 35

• a theory suggesting that increased arousal improves performance to an optimal point but there is a dramatic reduction in performance when arousal increases beyond the optimal’
• reduction is caused by somatic and cognitive anxiety.

Question 36

Catastrophe theory graph:

Answer 36

• see flashcard

Question 37

What happens at the reduction of performance?

Answer 37

• the player tries to regain control by reducing anxiety and arousal may gradually return to optimal, but only if the initial cause of the anxiety is mild.
• more often that not, the performer fails to control their arousal and then starts to panic, causing further increase in arousal, which causes a further decline in performance.

Question 38

What is the zone of optimal functioning?

Answer 38

• zone: area of controlled arousal and high level performance
• Hanin suggests that rather than a point of optimal arousal, the best level of arousal for maximum confidence and control in sport is an area or ‘zone’

Question 39

What does it mean to be in the ‘zone’

Answer 39

• flow effortlessly
• supreme confidence and remains calm under lots of pressure
• athlete feels that they are in total control of their actions and totally focused on the activity.

Question 40

How does the ‘zone’ vary for individual performers - diagram:

Answer 40

• see flashcard

Question 41

What is peak flow?

Answer 41

• ‘the ultimate intrinsic experience felt by athletes from a positive mental attitude, with supreme confidence, focus and efficiency.
• the park flow is an extension of the feelings and performance levels experienced in the zone.
• it happens to performers when timing, action and movement appear to be perfect.

Question 42

What are the characteristics of peak flow?

Answer 42

• mental positive attitude
• low anxiety and feelings of relaxation
• confidence in preparation and fitness levels
• subconscious feeling of control
• extreme focus and high levels of confidence
• belief in the ability to complete the challenge, clear goals and effortless movement.
• belief that the optimum environment conditions are here at here at the time of the event.