Lecture 2: Introduction

Question 1

What is Psychology?

Answer 1

The scientific study of behaviour; where behaviour is broadly defined.

Question 2

What is social psychology?

Answer 2

The scientific study of human social behaviour– the ‘how’s’ and ‘whys’ of human social behaviour

Question 3

What is sport/exercise psychology?

Answer 3

the scientific study of human social behaviour in the sport/exercise context – the ‘how’s’ and ‘whys’ of human social behaviour in the sport/exercise context

Question 4

What are the two general categories of sport/ex psych questions?

Answer 4

1. What effect do psychology factors have on performance
   in sport/exercise?
2. What effect does participation in sport/exercise have on the psychological make-up of the participant?

Question 5

What is sport?

Answer 5

Sports are institutionalized (organisation/rules) competitive activities that involve vigorous physical exertion or use of relatively complex physical skills

Question 6

What is competition?

Answer 6

A situation in which a comparison of an individual’s performance is made with some standard of excellence, in the presence of others who are aware of the criteria (standard) for comparison and can evaluate the comparison process

Question 7

How is sport different to PA?

Answer 7

• Because of competition
• Being judged and scrutinized
• Pressure expectation (how do you perceive this?)

Question 8

What aspects add to popularity of sports?

Answer 8

Participation, Spectators, Media, TV, Print media, Sports “business” – pro sports, equipment, clothing, shoes,…

Question 9

What issues come with voluntary activity?

Answer 9

an issue of motivation, commitment

Question 10

What issues come with competitive activity?

Answer 10

an issue of motivation, stress

Question 11

What issues come with evaluative activity?

Answer 11

an issue of self-esteem, stress

Question 12

What issues come with skill learning?

Answer 12

an issue of concentration, attention, self-confidence

Question 13

What issues come with participating with and against other people?

Answer 13

an issue of cooperation, leadership, group dynamics

Question 14

What issues come with rule bound activity?

Answer 14

an issue of fair play, cheating, morality, aggression…

Question 15

What are psychoanalytic theories?

Answer 15

• “homo valen – a striving human” : unconscious, inner urges expressed as drives and emotions; esp. the libido, as it acts as a motivational force.

Question 16

What is the equation for psychoanalytic theories?

Answer 16

B = f ( p )

    B = behaviour
    F = function
    P = person

Question 17

What are behavioural theories?

Answer 17

• “homo mechanicus – a relative human” : like a complex computer the individual is ‘programmed’ to react in a consistent manner to certain kinds of input from the social environment; minimal thought involved.

Question 18

What is the equation for behavioural theories?

Answer 18

B = f ( E )

    B = behaviour
    F = function
    E = environment (behaviour is a function of the environment/other human beings setting rules)

Question 19

What are cognitive theories?

Answer 19

• “homo sapien – a thinking human”an individual ‘thinks’ about the social environment, but also brings their own motives, goals, beliefs and values to every situation.
  : a complex interaction of the persons perception of the social environment leads to behaviour – emphasis is on perception.

Question 20

What is the equation for cognitive theories?

Answer 20

B = f ( P x e )

Person AND behaviour explain the behaviour

Question 21

What is Psych in Sport/PA?

Answer 21

competition, motivation, stress

Question 22

What is psych for sport?

Answer 22

Mental Skills Training (MST)

Question 23

What does User + software + hardware mean?

Answer 23

User = cognitive
Software = behaviour
Hardware = psych A

Question 24

What is “looking versus seeing”?

Answer 24

How to perceive or make sense of the information, We all look at the same information, but we don’t always see the same answer