Ch. 16 Psychology In Sports Performance

Question 1

Limited channel capacity

Answer 1

ability to only hold a limited amount of information in the mind at one time

Question 2

Concentration

Answer 2

maintaining awareness and focus on relevant cues over a period of time and shifting focus as necessary

Question 3

Selective attention

Answer 3

ability to focus on relevant cues

Question 4

Relevant cue

Answer 4

task-associated piece of information that may signal a need for action

Question 5

Irrelevant cue

Answer 5

a distraction; cue that takes attention away from the task

Question 6

Four Practical Aspects of Concentration

Answer 6

• Focusing on relevant cues in the environment (selective attention)
• Maintaining attentional focus over time
• Having awareness of the situation
• Shifting attentional focus when necessary

Question 7

Situational awareness

Answer 7

ability to assess environmental surroundings and make appropriate decisions based on the situation, often under pressure and time demands

Question 8

Strategies to improve concentration

Answer 8

• Self-talk
• Routines
• Self-monitoring
• Imagery

Question 9

Self-talk

Answer 9

inner and spoken dialogue that forms our thoughts and shared ideas

Question 10

Routines

Answer 10

help athletes transfer attention from irrelevant to relevant thoughts; increase likelihood athletes will not be distracted internally or externally; helps stay automatic without interference of conscious awareness

Question 11

Self-monitoring

Answer 11

observation of one’s self in a systematic way, typically to produce more desirable behaviors

Question 12

Imagery

Answer 12

creating mental images of performance to enhance motivation, confidence, attention and focus, and acquisition of new skills, reduce competitive anxiety, psych-up for training or competition, and build competitive plans and strategies

Question 13

Motivation

Answer 13

the direction and intensity of one’s efforts

Question 14

Interactional model

Answer 14

motivation is comprised of a combination of personal and situational factors

Question 15

Intrinsic motivation

Answer 15

focuses on the athlete’s love and enjoyment of participating

Question 16

Extrinsic motivation

Answer 16

external rewards for performance; e.g., trophies, prizes, accolades

Question 17

Optimal arousal

Answer 17

optimal blend of psychological and physiological activity in a person; a “psyched-up” mind state; intensity continuum from no arousal at all (deep sleep) to complete arousal (frenzied)

Question 18

Relaxation response

Answer 18

cognitive relaxation technique of meditating without spiritual or religious aspects

Question 19

Coping

Answer 19

process to manage stress when feeling overwhelmed

Question 20

Problem-focused coping

Answer 20

focuses directly on the cause of a stressor

Question 21

Emotion-focused coping

Answer 21

focuses on regulating the emotional response to a stressor

Question 22

Commonly Used Coping Strategies

Answer 22

• Though control: Blocking distractions, using coping thoughts such as “I can do it!”
• Rational thinking: Taking a rational approach to one’s self and the situation
• Task focus: Narrowing focus
• Positive focus and orientation: Focusing on belief in one’s ability
• Social support: Encouragement from coaches, family, friends, and teammates
• Pre-performance mental preparation and anxiety management: Mental practice, pre-performance routines, and relaxation strategies
• Time management: Making time for personal growth and daily goals
• Training hard and smart: Applying work ethic; taking responsibility for one’s training

Question 23

Relationship-oriented leadership style

Answer 23

focused on developing interpersonal relationships

Question 24

Task-oriented leadership style

Answer 24

focused on getting the task completed

Question 25

The TARGET Model

Answer 25

Coaching model used to create a mastery-oriented motivational climate
• Tasks: focuses on learning and downplays competition and social comparisons
• Authority: allows athletes to participate in the decision-making process
• Reward: bases rewards on improvement, not social comparison
• Grouping: creates cooperative learning climates within groups (not competing against each other)
• Evaluation: focuses evaluations on personal improvement, not just on who is the best
• Timing: provides feedback immediately after an athlete performs the task

Question 26

Positive self-monitoring

Answer 26

The observation of the positive aspects of a performance in a systematic way, typically to produce more desirable behaviors.

Question 27

Breath control

Answer 27

A somatic anxietyreduction technique focusing on breathing technique and imagery.

Question 28

Progressive Relaxation

Answer 28

A somatic anxiety-reducing technique involving tensing and relaxing specific muscles in a progressive manner from one major muscle group to another until all muscle groups are completely relaxed.

Question 29

Which of the following terms explains WHY it is important for an athlete to eliminate inappropriate cues and pay attention to relevant cues to achieve optimal performance?

Answer 29

Limited channel capacity

Question 30

Which of the following techniques produces the best response to cognitive anxiety?

Answer 30

Relaxation response

Question 31

A coach who encourages an athlete to believe in his or her own ability is using which of the following strategies?

Answer 31

Positive focus and orientation

Question 32

Which of the following strategies essentially holds a mirror up to the athlete to reflect his or her progress compared to his or her goals?

Answer 32

Self-monitoring

Question 33

A volleyball player who bounces the ball three times and spins it in her left hand before she serves demonstrates which performance enhancing technique?

Answer 33

Routines

Question 34

Which of the following argues that somatic-based techniques produce the best results for athletes with high levels of physiological anxiety?

Answer 34

The matching hypothesis

Question 35

Which of the following terms refers to the direction and intensity of one’s efforts?

Answer 35

Motivation

Question 36

An athlete who is able to systematically overcome the physical and mental stressors placed on her demonstrates which of the following?

Answer 36

Coping

Question 37

A quarterback’s ability to know what down it is, what play to call, how many yards are needed, and what routes his receivers are running demonstrates which of the following?

Answer 37

Situational awareness

Question 38

Which of the following terms explains WHY it is important for an athlete to eliminate inappropriate cues and pay attention to relevant cues to achieve optimal performance?

Answer 38

Limited channel capacity

Question 39

Which of the following techniques involves cycles of tensing and releasing specific muscles from one muscle group to another?

Answer 39

Progressive relaxation

Question 40

A coach may observe an athlete in low-pressure, mid-level, and high-pressure situations in practices and competitions to identify which of the following?

Answer 40

Optimal arousal level

Question 41

Which of the following is the critical variable for athletes interpreting their arousal as facilitative rather than debilitative?

Answer 41

Sense of control

Question 42

Which of the following is defined as maintaining awareness of relevant cues over a period of time and shifting focus when necessary?

Answer 42

Concentration

Question 43

Which of the following questions would be beneficial to ask a pitcher who is struggling to throw strikes?

Answer 43

“Are you focusing on your release point?”

Question 44

Which of the following techniques produces the best response to cognitive anxiety?

Answer 44

Relaxation response

Question 45

Which of the following is considered a relevant cue for a baseball player during a game?

Answer 45

Knowing who is pitching