6.1 SPORTS PSYCHOLOGY: Attitudes

Question 1

Attitude:

Answer 1

• A value aimed at an attitude object.
• Ideas charged with emotion that produce specific behaviour to a specific situation.
• An opinion.

Question 2

Attitude Formation:

Answer 2

• we learn from significant others when the information is reinforced or repeated.
• they are conditioned by behaviour that is successful and reinforced, praise will develop a positive attitude between coach and player.
• this can be negative if the behaviour learnt is negative, if the reinforcement is negative, or if the praise is for cheating behaviour.

Question 3

Triadic Model:

C.A.B

Answer 3

• COGNITIVE: thoughts and beliefs, e.g the belief in the ability to win.
• AFFECTIVE: feelings and interpretations, e.g enjoyment of training.
• BEHAVIOURAL: actions, e.g training three times a week.

Question 4

Attitude change:

Answer 4

• attitudes can be positive or negative

- positive attitude needs to be encouraged to maintain motivation and effort and continue to take part

Question 5

Cognitive dissonance:

Answer 5

New information given to the performer to cause unease and motivate change.

Question 6

How do you use cognitive dissonance in a sporting situation?

Answer 6

1. Give new information to promote a person to question their current behaviour and motivate change - coach could introduce a new training method or challenge thinking methods.
2. Making the activity fun or varying practice can make the situation more fun and challenging.
3. Using rewards to promote positive behaviour
4. Bring a specialist role model to promote the topic.

Question 7

Persuasive communication:

Answer 7

• you can be talked into changing your attitude but it is hard once the beliefs are stable.
• the message given needs to be understood and have quality.
• the message should be given by someone of high status; a role model to have effect.
• Timing is important, after a poor performance it would be used to change something.

Question 8

Negative attitudes can be changed to positive attitudes by:

Answer 8

• persuasion from a professional expert
• making training fun
• allowing early success
• using positive reinforcement and rewards
• pointing out the benefits of exercise
• using role models
• cognitive dissonance

Question 9

Attitudes can be positive or negative:

Answer 9

POSITIVE:

• familiarisation
• learned from role models
• learned from enjoyable experiences
• learned from beliefs
• learned from the influence of significant others
• learned from conditioned behaviour

Question 10

Persuasion:

Answer 10

An effective communication to promote change.