Lecture 2 - Multilevel Classification System for Sport Psychology - the MCS-SP

Question 1

Outline understanding the referral

3 things

Answer 1

• who is making it
• whats the expectations of client and team/ coaches
• what was immediate trigger for referral

Question 2

What does formal assessment involve?

- 3 things

Answer 2

1. Behavioural observation
2. Psychological testing (e.g. questionnaires)
3. Interviews

Question 3

Outline behavioural observation as part of formal assessment

Answer 3

• check if behaviour matches what they are saying - true?

- behaviour can indicate mental states - e.g. looking away from penalty

Question 4

Outline psychological testing as part of formal assessment

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Answer 4

Instruments and questionnaires

• ask whats important in your sport as well
• e.g. stamina, agression etc

Question 5

Outline the performance profiling technique as a psychological test

Answer 5

Good for younger athletes/ non-elites

• look at whats important in their sport
• has theoretical underpinnings (Kelly, 1955) - personal construct theory
• get athlete involve in decision making - give autonomy

Question 6

what are limitations of performance profiling

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Answer 6

X - only focuses on performance enhancement
X - Ignores person as a whole, just a participant of sport
X - assumes everything is naturally fine

Question 7

What are factors that influence performance?
6 things
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Answer 7

• performance demands of sport/ upcoming events
• Transitional/ environmental demands
• Cognitive-affective-behavioural patterns (triangle)
• Physical/ sport specific skills
• interpersonal variables
• intrapersonal & Developmental variables

Question 8

Outline findings of Anderson (2008)

Answer 8

Found only 3% of his patients problems were directly about performance
- 97% had indirect stuff that needed to be solved to improve performance

Question 9

Outline the first phase of the MCS-SP - CLinical intake interview

Answer 9

• To rule out major psychologial disorders
• Rule out any termination issues
• Use clinical techniques
• are they clinicall well? Yes or no

Question 10

Outline the second phase of the MCS-SP - Personal development phase

Answer 10

• life circumstances
• whats good and bad in life rn
• Developmental history - trauma, performance getting better?
• Transitional issues?

Question 11

Outline the third phase of the MCS-SP - performance assessment phase
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Answer 11

• only 3% get to this bit
• everythings Fine
• what existing mental skills do they have
• what are expectations and goals?
• previous experience with SP’s?
• Interviews family/ coaches - traingulate data - is it true?
• within this stage = functional analysis - trying to find S-R pattern of behaviour
• what thoughts/ feelings are triggered by stimulis? - what causes them, and what reinforces them?

Question 12

What doesnt the MCS-SP assume?

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Answer 12

Doesnt assume that presented issue is the actual issue

• 95% of time they say i want to improve performance, but actually there is a bigger issue!
• lack of self-awareness - dont always realise what issue is
• confidentiality concerns - if its coaches fault, cant tell them!

Question 13

What are the 3 components of case formulation?

• person-situation interaction

Answer 13

1. Person-situation interaction
2. Pschological characteristics
3. Behavioural responses

Question 14

Outline Person-situation interaction as a component of case formulation
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Answer 14

• contextual performanc demands
• skill level (realistic goals?)
• situation demands (whats going on in the world of your sport atm

Question 15

Outline Psychological characteristics as a component of case formulation
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Answer 15

• Transitional, Developmental, Psychosocial, interpersonal stressors (personal Phase)
• performance and non-performance schema - e.g. do you handle anxiety well?
• attentional focus
• cognitive responses
• affective responses

Question 16

Outline behavioural responses as a component of case formulation
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Answer 16

• avoidance behaviours?
• self-handicapping?
• how are these problems manifested?
• when do they crop up?

Question 17

What are the 4 primary sources of diagnosis formation?

Answer 17

1. Client information
2. Literature/ previous evidence - what does it suggest
3. Professional Folklore (have other team members experienced this?)
4. Personal experience of the SP - usually try this

Question 18

Outline when performance development occurs

Answer 18

Occurs when:

• desire to improve performance is ultimate goal
• no other problems
• Developing some psychological skills is likely to enhance performance
• but we should just focus on performance

Question 19

Outline when performance dysfunction occurs

Answer 19

Occurs when:

• Desire to improve performance again - performance could be in decline/ plateau
• Psychologically healthy - but there are some psychological barriers
• e.g. nervousness or transitions etc

Question 20

Outline when performance impairment occurs

Answer 20

Occurs when:

• There ARE clinical issues
• severe impairment/ misfunctioning - of at least one life domain (not necessarily related to sport)
• performance enhancement is secondary goal
• hard to ignore sport completely though

Question 21

Outline when performance termination occurs

Answer 21

occurs when:

• multiple stressors/ issues surrounding retiring
• athletes often use metaphors of grieving and death
• Family/ interpersonal issues are likely. Have to take others into account
• SP’s arent miracle workers - cant do much for peformance if they are 40 - reality sets in
• secondary focus is future planning