A2 Sport Psychology - Psychological Factors that Influence Individuals in Physical Activities

Question 1

Define confidence

Answer 1

Belief in the ability to master a task`

Question 2

Define self-efficacy

Answer 2

Belief in the ability to master a specific sporting situation

Question 3

List the 4 factors affecting self-efficacy

Answer 3

• Performance accomplishments
• Vicarious experience
• Verbal persuasion
• Emotional arousal

Question 4

Describe performance accomplishments

Answer 4

What you have achieved already - past experience

- PA enhanced if performer enjoyed the experience

Question 5

Describe vicarious experience

Answer 5

Seeing others do the task and being successful

- VE enhanced if the ‘model’ performer is perceived to have a similar ability to performer

Question 6

Describe verbal persuasion

Answer 6

Encouragement from others - reinforcement

• Praise from coach, players, spectators etc - gives incentive and confidence to repeat successful attempt
• VP more effective if it comes from significant others

Question 7

Describe emotional arousal

Answer 7

Perception of the effects of anxiety on performance

• Keeping calm, maintaining control and game strategy
• Better perception of increased arousal - better performance

Question 8

Identify 5 ways a coach/player could do to improve confidence

Answer 8

1. Control arousal - relaxation/stress management techniques
2. Accurate demonstrations - role model of equal ability
3. Point out past success
4. Give support and encouragement
5. Allow success - set tasks within capability of player
6. Set attainable goals - once reached, further goal set - performance and process goals - avoid social comparison
7. Attribute success to athlete - their effort/ability
8. Mental practice and one-to-one coaching

Question 9

Strategies to Avoid Learned Helplessness

Answer 9

• Attribution retraining: changing reasons given for success/failure. Internal, stable reasons to external, unstable reasons. Player starts to develop self-serving bias - blames reasons for failure on luck or task difficultly
• Coach provides motivation via reinforcement
• Allow early success in training - increase confidence in ability
• Set achievable goals
• Stress personal improvements - even if game is lost
• Pointing out past success - player knows they can be successful again
• Giving demonstrations within performers capability
• Cognitive and somatic stress management techniques such as imagery and centering
• Praise and encouragement - improve confidence

Question 10

Describe Mastery Orientation

Answer 10

State of mind when performance is high in confidence, believes in their own ability and believes that success is repeatable and failure is temporary and changeable.
They show approach behaviour and continue if unsuccessful