Expert In Performance Flashcards
What is personality?
The sum of characteristics that make a person unique
What are the 4 key principles of personality + explain
- Enduring - consistent across time and situations
- Distinction - differentiate between individuals (not everyone is same)
- Contribution to behaviour allows for collection of empirical data
- Feeling, thinking + behaving takes into account all aspects of a person (not just one domain)
What are the 4 key principles of personality + explain
- Enduring - consistent across time and situations
- Distinction - differentiate between individuals (not everyone is same)
- Contribution to behaviour allows for collection of empirical data
- Feeling, thinking + behaving takes into account all aspects of a person (not just one domain)
What are the layers of personality that need to be considered to understand a whole sportsperson?
- Dispositional traits - broad, comparative tendencies or behavioural signature
- Characteristic adaptations - ones conscious goals + purpose
- Self-narrative identities - unfolding identities + self-stories
What must also be taken into account with regards to personality?
Must take into account environment
Lewins Equation:
B = F (P , E)
Behaviour is a function of their personality and environment
State the 2 key considerations relating performance and personality
- Performance-focused theoretical basis - why + how personality affects performance
- Main versus interactive effects - people are complex, interactive effect between a person and environment on behaviour is complex + so is relationship between performance + performance
What is the BIG 5 with regards to personality?
Openness - tendency to seek out new experiences (high = more willing)
Conscientiousness - organisation + goal-directed behaviour (high = hard-working, reliable)
Extraversion - quality of interpersonal interactions (high = assertive + talkative)
Agreeableness - concern for cooperation + social harmony (high = friendly + considerate)
Neuroticism - proneness to emotional instability (high = anxiety)
How are elite athletes different from recreational athletes in relation to personality?
They are more emotionally stable and extroverted than recreational level
- higher conscientiousness
- lower neuroticism
What is perfectionism?
Multidimensional construct characterised by high personal standards paired with self-criticism
- plays a significant role in performance
What are the dimensions of perfectionism?
- Perfectionistic strivings - high personal standards + self-driven aspirations for excellence
- Perfectionistic concerns - anxiety surrounding mistakes, fear of negative social evaluation + negative responses to imperfection
Describe adaptive vs maladaptive perfectionism
Adaptive strivings = linked to enhanced performance, Olympic success, confidence + effective coping
Maladaptive concerns = associated with negative outcomes (avoidance behaviour) including detrimental conditions like ‘the yips’
Describe what hope is
Hope is defined as one’s perceived ability to reach goals, consisting of 2 cognitive processes
- pathways = ability to create plans for achieving goals
- agency = drive to pursue these goals
What does optimism refer to?
The broader expectation of positive outcomes rather than focusing solely on self-capabilities
- it is positively associated with problem-focused coping strategies in sports
- negatively associated with avoidance coping strategies
What is mental toughness?
Encompasses a stable disposition related to performing well under pressure, despite stressors + challenges
- includes a range of values, attitudes + emotions contributing to successful goal attainment even amid diversity
Does mental toughness correlate with performance?
Yes research shows mental toughness predicts high-level performance and is tied to Olympic success
What is narcissism?
Characterised by entitlement, lack of empathy, manipulation + being self-centered
- traits exhibit prominence in high-pressure sports events, potentially due to increased effort and preference for individualistic coaching styles
What is alexithymia?
Denotes a lack of emotional regulation, characterised by inability to identify and explores emotions = challenges in emotional contexts
- can influence risk-taking behaviours + engagement in high-stress situations
Explain the folllowing statement:
The dark side of personality and sporting success
Many top athletes exhibit dark personality traits - driven, obsessive, self-centered
- while these can leads to success, they may also hinder personal relationships + emotional well-being
What is motivation?
Gives purpose or direction to behaviour and operates i. Humans at a conscious or unconscious level
What are motivational motives divided into?
Physiological (primary) motives - hunger, thirst, sleep
Personal (secondary) motives - affiliation, competition, goals
What happens when an individual has no motivation?
- amotivation
- learned helplessness
- disengagement
- burnout (previously highly motivated but lose it)
How do athletes succeed in sport with relation to motivation?
Individuals sustain high levels of motivation through a very strong sense of doing an activity for the inherent satisfaction of doing activity itself
- motivation must be maintained throughout a season to perform
- can also be externally motivated - rewards etc
List the key theories of motivation
Self Determination Theory
A. Basic Needs Theory
B. Cognitive Evaluation Theory
C. Organismic Integration Theory
D. Causality Orientation Theory
Achievement Goal Theory
Describe the Basic Needs Theory of Motivation
There are 3 innate psychological needs that need to be satisfied for enhanced / maintained internal motivation
- competence - feeling of mastery or accomplishment
- autonomy - sense of being in control so that behaviour is self-determined
- relatedness - sense of belonging and security
Describe the Cognitive Evaluation Theory of motivation
CET highlights critical roles played by competence + autonomy in supporting intrinsic motivation
- rewards undermine intrinsic motivation
- if externally motivated over long time - internal motivation subsides
Describe the Cognitive Evaluation Theory of motivation
CET highlights critical roles played by competence + autonomy in supporting intrinsic motivation
- rewards undermine intrinsic motivation
- if externally motivated over long time - internal motivation subsides
What does cognitive evaluation theory question?
Questions at what conditions will external rewards negatively impact intrinsic motivation
- all about how rewards are perceived
- events that affect perceptions of competence + feelings of self-determination will affect intrinsic motivation
How can cognitive evaluation theory be applied in elite sport?
Goal setting strategies should be used to confirm elite performers need for self-competence as long as they feel responsible for process being goal achievement
- any situation deemed to have negative affect on attainment of goal = detrimental for intrinsic performance
Describe the organismic integration theory?
Focuses on various forms of motivation from extrinsic to becoming more internal and autonomous
What are the different forms of extrinsic motivation according to organismic integration theory?
Amotivation - lack of intentionality
External regulation - do it for rewards
Introjected - avoiding external sources of disapproval
Identified - for personally held values (learning new skills)
Integrated - behaviours that satisfy psychological needs (most internal of external)
Intrinsic - for enjoyment + pleasure
Describe the causality orientation theory
Individuals possess 3 motivational climates
- Autonomy orientation - for personal growth, interests
- Controlled orientation - power structures that determine behaviour
- Impersonal orientation - focused on performance + anxieties
What’s the key thing that can be done to focus on one orientation with regard to causality orientation theory?
Can be ‘primmed’ - by getting individuals in a head space using priming words
Describe the achievement goal theory
Idea that competence is central and can be construed in 2 ways
- Task involvement - mastery focused + involves demonstrating competence through personal improvement
- Ego involvement - comparatively referenced + involves being superior to others / equal with less effort
Link the achievement goal theory to elite sport
Individuals with strong ego orientation + low perceived ability = motivation difficulties
Better performance = higher task + ego but employ them in different situations
What are attributions + what are they affected by?
Perceived reasons an individual gives for an event
- affected by personality + environmental factors
What are attributions + what are they affected by?
Perceived reasons an individual gives for an event
- affected by personality + environmental factors
Describe Weiners Attributional Theory
Locus of causality - internal or external (influences emotions)
Locus of stability - stable or unstable (influences expectancy of success)
Locus of controllability - in ones control or not (influences motivation)
Link the attributional theory to elite sport
Attribute internal, controllable + stable reasons for SUCCESS
Attribute external, uncontrollable + unstable reasons for FAILURE
- this style has self-serving bias to prevent slipping into learned helplessness
What is a key motivation of elite athletes in real world?
Motivation and adversity - trauma seemed to fuel effort + need to excel
Phaeton Effect:
- individuals who show exceptional personal achievement have experienced loss of parents via death / desertion in childhood
Goldman Dilemma:
- questioning athletes on if they would take a drug making them unbeatable for next 5 years
Explain the psychodynamic approach between adversity and motivation
Early life adversity induces a sense of loss that creates strong unconscious need to avoid such experiences in future
- guilt
- achievement striving
- need for success
What is John Henryism?
A high effort strategy of coping with adversity increases risk of ill health
- efficacious mental + physical vigour
- strong commitment to hard work
- Single-minded determination to succeed
What does optimal motivation look like?
- Approach not avoidance
- Active not passive
- Internal
- Positive rather than negative
- For yourself not for others
- Self regulated + self-determined
What are the 3 kinds of goals?
Outcome - focus on results of something (involve interpersonal comparisons)
Performance - specify on end product of performance
Process - focus on processes that are important during performance
