Module 1, Introduction to Sport & Exercise Psychology Flashcards
What is Sport and Exercise Psychology?
sport and exercise psychology is an interdisciplinary scientific and applied field that embraced the integration of sport science and psychological knowledge
What is the study of sport and exercise psychology often influenced by?
- cognitive psychology
- clinical and counselling psychology
- social psychology
- developmental psychology
- health psychology
Influence of Positive Psychology
clinical -> social and health
- positive psychology focuses on understanding processes that enable people and groups to thrive
- improve performance/exercise enhancement, well-being and positive psychological growth
myth: only athletes or exercisers with serious mental problems need a sport and exercise psychologist
Three approaches to influence of positive psychology
- emotional (joy, happiness, enjoyment, satisfaction)
- cognitive (positive thoughts that influence mood, motivation and performance)
- behavioural (enhancing self-regulation strategies (how can we have people to have more control over their thoughts and actions)
The ABCs
- affect/emotions (how people feel)
- cognition (what people think
- behaviour (what people do)
all are interconnected and go both ways
Situational & Environmental factors that influence performance
- coaching/leaders
- teammates
- referees
- organization
- fans
- significant others
- playing condition
- equipment
- weather
Person factors that influence performance
- physical skills and abilities
- personality
- cognitive dispositions
- physical self-concept
- identify (athlete)/self
- emotion regulation
- cognitive skills
- personal expectations
- appraisals
- coping skills
- psychological needs
- confidence
- mental toughness?
Careers in Sport and Exercise Psychology
teaching, research and consulting (sport and exercise psychologist)
What is a Sport and Exercise Psychologist?
the term “psychologist” is regulated (with provincial and territorial bodies)
challenges:
- not sufficient to have a PhD in Psychology
- need specialized training in sport sciences plus training in intervention targeting sport and exercise populations
Mental Skill Consultants
individuals with training in psychology and kinesiology
~ specialize in performance enhancement and behaviour change
challenges:
- not regulated
- skils vary
- may be certified by various groups (associated of applied sport psychology and Canadian sport psychology association)
-> anything that goes beyond mental health, requires them to reach out and direct the client to higher powers
Evidence Based Practice (EBP)
EBP uses best available research to inform clinical decision-making and service delivery
- interventions: maximize benefits and minimize harm
- context needs to be considered (client characteristics, cultural background, and treatment preferences (know the clients wants and needs))
Scientific constructs
terms created for a scientific purpose to distinguish form related from distinct ideas
- danger of confusing everyday language with scientific constructs (eg. aggression)
- may not be directly measured
(a very specific experience)
Variable
a scientific construct that can be assigned to a specific value to be counted
- christine wants to exercise, but experiences body anxiety in public
- body anxiety in public = needs to be defined as a variable (eg. social physical anxiety)
- specific measurement (eg. social physique anxiety scale) is then used to measure the construct’
Types of Variables
independent variables (IV)
- the variable or “part of the experiment” the researcher manipulates
- the “cause” of the change in the dependent variable (DV) scores
dependent variables (DV; outcome variable)
- phenomenon of interest expected to change because of the manipulation of the IV (the “effect” of the independent variable (IV)
Theory
specific relationships across a number of specific constructs and attempts to explain phenomena across a number of different times, context and people
- theories allow us to explain and predict behaviour and events
- we can examine the same situation through multiple ‘lenses’ (eg. we can use multiple theories to explain the behaviours_
