Personality Flashcards
Personality Traits:
Enduring characteristics that influence how individuals behave across time and situations.
Personality
refers to the unique combination of characteristics and traits that make each individual distinct.
Hollander (1971):
Defined personality as “the sum total of an individual’s characteristics which make him/her unique.”
Lindsay, Paulhas, & Nairne (2008):
Personality is “the overall organization of psychological characteristics – thinking, feeling, and behaving – that differentiates us from others and leads us to act consistently across time and situations.”
Psychological States:
: Temporary, situation-dependent feelings, thoughts, and behaviors.Can change rapidly depending on the context (e.g., anxiety before a game, excitement after scoring).
Often influenced by external factors such as the importance of the event, the presence of others, and the athlete’s level of preparedness.
Trait Theory
Suggests that behavior in sport can be predicted based on an athlete’s personality traits.
Allport, Cattell, and Eysenck:
Early theorists who developed models of trait-based behavior.
The Big Five
OCEAN
Openness: Curiosity, creativity, and willingness to try new things.
Conscientiousness: Discipline, organization, and achievement-striving.
Extraversion: Sociability, assertiveness, and energetic approach to life.
Agreeableness: Compassion, cooperation, and trust in others.
Neuroticism: Tendency to experience negative emotions like anxiety or sadness.
Id
Unconscious, driven by basic needs and desires (pleasure principle).
Ego
Conscious, logical mediator (reality principle).
Superego
Moral compass, internalized societal standards (conscience).
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs:
Physiological needs(food, water, sleep).
Safety needs(personal, financial security).
Social needs(belonging, love).
Esteem needs(achievement, recognition).
Self-actualization: Striving for full potential and personal growth.
Social reinforcement
Behaviors that are rewarded are more likely to be repeated
State anxiety
Anxiety in specific situations.
Trait anxiety
Long-term disposition to feel anxious.
Psychological core
: The most stable and consistent aspect (values, self-concept, motives).
Typical responses
Usual ways of responding to environmental situations.
Role-related behaviors
The most superficial, dynamic responses based on the situation.
High conscientiousness
Linked to consistent training and better performance outcomes.
High neuroticism:
Associated with increased anxiety, potentially hindering performance in high-pressure situations.
High extraversion
Often leads to better performance in team settings and high-energy environments.
Trait-Situation Interaction
Behavior is shaped by both an athlete’s personality traits and the specific context they are in.
High-pressure situations:
An anxious athlete may struggle in competition but perform well in training.
Team environments:
Extroverted athletes may thrive with the energy of a crowd, while introverts might perform better in quieter, individual sports.
Stable Situation Profiles
: Athletes who respond consistently across different situations.
Example: An athlete who always feels calm during practice but gets anxious during competition.
Unstable Situation Profiles
Athletes whose responses fluctuate widely depending on the situation.
Example: An athlete who feels calm in some competitions but experiences extreme anxiety in others.
Personalized Coaching
Adjust coaching strategies based on athlete’s personality traits and situation profiles.
Example: For an athlete with high neuroticism, emphasize relaxation techniques before competition.
Trait-Situation Fit:
Matching athletes to the right environments can improve performance.
Example: An extroverted athlete might perform better in team sports with a large audience, while an introverted athlete may excel in individual sports with less social pressure.
Risk-taking:
Athletes often engage in riskier behaviors in sports to push boundaries and achieve success.
Example: High-risk sports like motocross, skydiving, or extreme skiing.
Sensation-seeking
: Some athletes are drawn to intense, novel, and thrilling experiences.
Example: Athletes in adventure sports who seek excitement and thrive on physical challenges.
Adaptive perfectionism
High personal standards paired with realistic goals and self-discipline.
Perfectionism
Characterized by striving for flawlessness, which can be both adaptive and maladaptive.
Maladaptive perfectionism:
Unrealistic standards, self-criticism, and fear of failure.
Adaptive perfectionists Impact on Performance
Adaptive perfectionists tend to be more motivated and focused on improvement.
Harmonious Passion
Engaging in sport for the love of the activity; balanced with other life activities.
Obsessive Passion:
Driven by external pressures, leading to rigid engagement and imbalance.
Harmonious passion and obsessive passion
Impact on Performance:
Harmonious passion leads to greater enjoyment and long-term success; obsessive passion may lead to burnout or negative emotional outcomes.
Attentional Style:
The way athletes focus on internal vs. external cues and broad vs. narrow fields of attention.
Mental Toughness
The ability to remain focused, resilient, and confident under pressure.
Key attributes: Control over emotions, high commitment to goals, confidence in overcoming challenges.
Impact: Strong correlation between mental toughness and successful performance in high-pressure situations.
Internal
Focus on thoughts and bodily sensations.
External
Focus on environmental cues, like the positioning of opponents.
Broad vs. Narrow
Depending on the demands of the sport, attention may shift from a wide perspective to a focused one.
Optimal Performance
Matching attentional style to sport-specific demands can enhance performance.
Stress Regulation
: Athletes need the ability to remain calm under pressure to succeed.
Conscientiousness and Neuroticism
Strongly influence an athlete’s ability to handle stress.
Stress Coping Techniques
Athletes often use techniques like visualization, relaxation, and positive self-talk to manage stress effectively.
Personality Testing in sport
Coaches and sport psychologists may use personality assessments to better understand an athlete’s traits.
Helps identify traits that influence training styles, stress responses, and social dynamics within a team
