Psychological Influences on the Individual 6.1

Question 1

Define ‘personality’

Answer 1

Unique psychological make-up

Question 2

What are traits?

Answer 2

Your stable underlying aspects of personality

Question 3

What is the trait theory?

Answer 3

Idea that an individual is born with innate characteristics that are stable, enduring and stay the same in different situations

Behaviour is said to be consistent so that the sports performer will behave the same in most situations

e.g. An extrovert basketball player may also have an extrovert manner at training, while playing an in team discussions & might always display this

Question 4

What are the problems with the predictability of the trait theory?

Answer 4

• Doesn’t take into account personailty change & how personality & behaviour can change with the situation

e.g. A football could be aggressive after being fouled but then calm and apolegetic in the post match interview

• Does not consider that our personalitys can be formed by experience

Question 5

What is the social learning approach?

Answer 5

Suggests how our personality’s develop, rather than being born with characteristics we learn from other people, especially those we hold in high esteem or significant others such as role models.

• We are more likely to learn reinforced behaviour that is seen as successful & powerful
  -We are more likely to copy behaviour that is consisently shown to us

Question 6

What is the order of the social learning approach?

Answer 6

Observe - Identify - Reinforce - Copy

Question 7

What is the interactionist perspective?

Answer 7

A theory combining trait and social learning theories to predict behaviour in a specfic situation

It suggests that the traits we are born with are adapted and used according to the situation

Question 8

What did Lewin suggest about the interactionist approach?

Answer 8

Suggested that the IA is explained by his formula of:
f(P x E)
Where behaviour is a function of personality and the environment

The interactionist approach attempts to help coaches by prediciting how a player will react in a specific situation.

Question 9

What was hollanders approach to the interactionist theory?

Answer 9

The idea that interaction can predict behaviour
Suggested that personality is made up of three features:

The core of the performer- represents the values & beliefs- stable & not likely to change (bottom)

The typical responses- use of inherent traits displayed to specific situations- usual responses

Role related behaviour- suggests that the performer might adopt a very specfic role when the situation demands it (top)

Question 10

Define ‘attitude’

Answer 10

A value aimed at an attitude object

Question 11

How do we form attitudes?

Answer 11

Attitudes are developed by associating with others and picking up on their opinions and values, a process called socialisation.

We tend to pick these up from significant others such as friends, parents and role models

Question 12

What is the triadic model?

(CAB)

Answer 12

The three parts of an attitude:
Cognitive
Affective
Behavioural

Question 13

What is the cognitive component of the triadic model?

Answer 13

Do do with what you think

• A belief, such as the belief in the ability to win

Question 14

What is the affective component of the triadic model?

Answer 14

Relates to feelings and interpretation such as enjoyment

The affective attitude component is shown when the player enjoys taking part in training and playing

Question 15

What is the behavioural component of the triadic model?

Answer 15

The actions and habits of the performer

e.g a player in a team sport who goes to training a couple of times a week & plays matches on the weekend displays a good behavioural aspect to their attitude

Question 16

What are the two concepts used to change (bad) attitudes?

Answer 16

• Cognitive dissonance
• Persuasive communication

Question 17

What is cognitive dissonance?

Answer 17

New information given to the performer to cause unease & motivate change
e.g A rugby player may be reluctant to train using a ‘dance fit’ technique until the coach points out that dancers are able to maintain an intense level of activity for an hour long session while the rugby player has to rest after a 40 minuet half! This challenges the player to think again

OR
e.g Using rewards as reinforcement may increase the turnout at training and at games if there is a prize for the player of the week

Question 18

What is persuasive communication?

Answer 18

An effective communication to promote change

Question 19

What is the key to being successful in persuasive communication?

Answer 19

• Ensure the messenger is of high status/significant other/credible so that the performer values their opinion
• New information given so that old beliefs are outweighed allowing a change in attitude

Question 20

Define ‘arousal’

Answer 20

The level of activation and alertness experienced by a performer and the readiness to perform

Question 21

What are the three arousal theories?

Answer 21

Drive Theory
Catastrophe Theory
Inverted ‘U’ Theory

Question 22

What does the drive theory state?

Answer 22

• Theory states as arousal increases so will performance
• To be more specifc, as arousal increases, the performers habitual (most common) response is likely to be demonstrated.

Performance is said to be the function of drive multiplied by habit
Formula:
P= f(DxH)

Question 23

What is a dominant response within the drive theory?

Answer 23

The standout response that the performer thinks is correct.

Question 24

What is an experts dominant response like compared to a beginner?

Answer 24

• In experts the dominant response is indeed usually correct, and the performance levels remain high.
• However, with beginners the dominant response may not be developed so the beginner may choose the wrong option and the probability of poor performance increases.

Question 25

What does the inverted ‘U’ theory state?

Answer 25

States that athletes can be under,over and optimally aroused

Therefore suggests that all athletes have different levels of arousal that allow them to perform optimally

This can also be called the zone of optimal functioning

Question 26

What does the catastrophe theory state?

Answer 26

Theory shaped similalry to the inverted ‘U’ theory, but suggests once a performer becomes over aroused, they have a sudden drop in performance levels (rather than gradual)

Theory discusses that the environement will cause somatic and cognitive anxiety & worrying which could cause over arousal

Question 27

What is somatic and cognitive anxiety?

Answer 27

Somatic anxiety- Physiological anxiety e.g. heartrate
Cognitive anxiety- Psychological anxiety

Question 28

What could happen to performance due to over and under arousal?

Answer 28

• Poor selective attention/ cues missed.
• Lack of concentration/ focus
• Slower/ poor reaction time/ response time/ slower decision making.
• Attentional wastage & narrowing

Question 29

Define the ‘zone’ in the zone of optimal functioning

Answer 29

An area of controlled arousal and high level performance

Question 30

How did Hanin come up with the zone of optimal functioning?

Answer 30

Hanin studied and adapted inverted U theory.

• He suggested that increases in arousal can improve performance and the optimal level does vary for individual players from low to high levels.
• Rather than a point of optimal arousal, the best level of arousal for maximum confidence and control in sport is an area or zone.
• He came up with a zone of optimal functioning.
• Some athletes find their optimum zone at low levels of arousal, some moderate and some high.

*Individuals achieve their zone by using mental practice, visualization and positive self-talk.
*

Question 31

What is the peak flow experience?

Answer 31

An extension of the feelings and performance levels experienced in the zone

Peak flow is an ultimate internal experience characterised by a belief in ability to complete the challange, clear goals, total focus, and the feeling of control

Question 32

Where does the peak flow experience come from?

Answer 32

Comes from a positive mental attitude, high levels of confidence, feeling of relaxation and anxiety control

Question 33

What factors are there that affect the peak flow experience?

Answer 33

1. Poor mental preparation and failure to reach optimal arousal levels
2. Environmental influences e.g. the pressure from the crowd/ or frustration caused by ref decision
3. The effect of injury or fatigue during the game will also stop the player keeping up with the flow experience