Psychological influences on the individual Flashcards
What is personality
Unique psychological make up
What is trait theory
The individual is born with innate characteristics that are stable and stay the same in different situations. However people question whether behavior can always be predicted and does not take into account personality
What is social learning theory
Suggests behavior is learned from significant others who are held in high esteem by socialisation. Observe, Identify, Reinforce, Copy
What is the interactionist approach
Combination of trait and social learning to predict behavior in a specific situation
What is Lewins formula
B = f(P x E)
so behaviour is a function of personality and environment
What are the three features of personality based on Hollanders model
The core values
Typical responses
Role related behavior
What are core values of the Hollander model
Stable and solid beliefs and values that are unlikely to change
What is a typical response of the Hollander model
Usual response a player would would make in a given situation
What are role related behavior of the Hollander model
Implies that further changes to behavior may be needed as the situation demands
How can knowledge of the interactionist perspective improve performance
1) They could predict any potential aggression or unacceptable behavior and substitute them off
2) Could identify situations that cause inappropriate actions and create similar situations whilst in training
3) They could use the interactionist approach to change player behavior by encouraging players to adapt
What is the credulous approach
When the link between personality and behavior is accepted
What is the sceptical approach
When the link between personality and behavior is doubted
What is an attitude
A value aimed at an attitude object. A mental and neural state of readiness.
How is an attitude formed
Through socialisation picking up on values or opinions and likely to be reinforced over time
What are the three parts of attitude components - triadic model
Cognitive
Affective
Behavioral
What is the cognitive part of the triadic model
Most deep rooted part of the attitude and represents what you think and your beliefs
What is the affective part of the triadic model
Concerns the feelings and emotions of the player and how those feelings are interpreted
What is the behavioral part of the triadic model
Reflects the actions and habits of a performer
What are the two ways to change an attitude
Cognitive dissonance
Persuasive communication
What is cognitive dissonance
Putting pressure on one or more attitude components so that the performer becomes uneasy and is motivated to change their attitude.
How can a coach deliver cognitive dissonance to change an attitude
1) Given new information or presented with a new form of activity so that they begin to question their current attitudes.
2) Making the activity fun and varying practice
3) Using rewards as reinforcement
4) Could bring in a specialist or role model to encourage change
What is persuasive communication
Being talked into changing of beliefs
What is important to consider when using persuasive communication
- Needs to be relevant and important = needs to be understood so high quality
- Person giving the message should be of higher status
- Timing is important
What is arousal
A level of activation, a degree of readiness to perform
What is drive theory
The assumption that increased motivation causes an increased drive in a linear fashion
What is the dominant response
The stand out response that the performer thinks is correct
What happens at high arousal levels that is a flaw of the drive theory
Less information is processed so the performer focuses on the dominant response. This is usually correct in experts but as a beginner it may not be right.
What is the inverted U theory
Theory linking arousal and performance stating that increased arousal improves performance to an optimal point at moderate levels of arousal
How does experience impact the inverted U theory
Experienced players have the correct dominant response so can produce a high performance at high arousal. A beginner might need to operate at a lower level of arousal as may not deal well under pressure
How does personality impact the inverted U theory
Extroverts are more likely to perform at a higher arousal due to the reticular activating systems (RAS) which controls adrenaline. Extroverts have naturally low levels of activation unlike introverts
How does a gross or fine skill impact the inverted U theory
A gross skill can be performed at a higher arousal due to use of large muscle groups unlike fine needing control and therefore low arousal.
How does a simple or complex skill impact the inverted U theory
A complex skill requires descion making and lots of information so needs a lower arousal to process, unlike a simple skill which requires less information so can be done at high arousal.
What is catastrophe theory
Arousal improves performance to an optimal point but then there is a dramatic reduction in performance when beyond optimal
What causes the performance slump in the catastrophe theory
Somatic and cognitive anxieties
What is the zone of optimal functioning
An adaptation of the inverted U theory whereby the optimal varies from player to player. Also there is not an individual optimum but a zone or area.
What methods are used to find someone’s zone of optimal arousal
Mental practice, relaxation, visualisation and positive self talk
What does the zone of optimal performance involve
- Flow effortlessly
- The performer has a state of supreme confidence remaining calm under utmost pressure
- Feels in total control of their actions and focused
What is the peak flow experience
Ultimate intrinsic experience felt by atheletes from a positive mental attitude, with supreme confidence, focus and efficiency
Factors affecting the peak flow experience
- Poor mental prep
- Failure to reach optimal arousal levels
- Environmental factors e.g crowd or referees descions
- Injury
- Fatigue
What is anxiety
State of nervousness and worry
What are the forms of anxiety
Competitive trait, competitive state, cognitive, somatic
What is competitive trait anxiety
A disposition to suffer from nervousness in most sporting situations
What is competitive state anxiety
A nervous response to specific sporting situations
What is somatic anxiety
A physiological response to a threat such as increased hr
What is cognitive anxiety
A psychological response such as worrying about losing
What is the link between state and trait anxiety
Someone with high trait anxiety is more likely to experience high state anxiety when in a stressful situation.
How does cognitive and somatic anxiety affect performance
As cognitive anxiety increases, performance decreases in a linear fashion. Somatic is in an inverted U.
How does cognitive and somatic anxiety vary in approach to a competition
Cognitive anxiety always remains higher than somatic. However both increase just before a competition and reduces once it is underway
What are the three methods of measuring anxiety in sport
Questionnaire, observation and physiological testing
What are advantages of using questionnaires to measure anxiety
- Quick
- Cheap
- Efficent as large number of players can be assessed
What are disadvantages of using questionnaires to measure anxiety
- Players may not understand the question and answer may not be truthful but the socially desirable answer
- Answers may depend on mood state
- The questions are inappropriate so biased results are given
- Responses can be influenced by time taken to do al the questions e.g rushing or not
What is an example of an anxiety questionnaire
Competitive Sports anxiety inventory (CSCAI) with 15 statements
How can observation be used as a measure of anxiety
By watching sports people in their training environment or during the game
What are advantages of using observation to measure anxiety
- Realistic/true to life
What are disadvantages of using observation to measure anxiety
- Results are based on opinion of observers
- Subjective
- The observers need to know what the person is like normally to know change
- Time consuming
- Player behavior changes knowing they are being watched
How can physiological measures be used as a measure of anxiety
Using a physical response from the body such as hr, sweat, respiration and hormone secretion
What are advantages of using physiological measures to measure anxiety
- Factual so comparison can be made
- Responses can be measured in training or in a game
What are disadvantages of using physiological measures to measure anxiety
- Training to use devices are needed
- Wearing device may restrict movement
- The performer knows they are being measured so may give a false reading
What is stress
A negative response of the body to a threat causing anxiety
What is a stressor
Cause of stress in sport
What are the cognitive stress management techniques
Thought stopping, positive self talk, imagery, visualisation, mental rehersal, attentional control/cue utilisation, psychological skills training
What is thought stopping
Performer uses a learned action or trigger to remove negative or irrational thoughts
What is positive self talk
Replace negative thought with positive thoughts
What is imagery
Recreate successful image of the action from a past performance, can include feel and emotions with the movement
What is visualisation
Performing a skill successfully in training and re lived in a competitive situation. Can be external or internal
What is mental rehersal
Going over the movements of a task in the mind before the action takes place
What is attentional control and cue utilisation
When stressed the ability to take in information reduces (attentional narrowing) unlike low stress. Taking in the correct number of cues
What is psychological skills training
Performer practicing any of the stress management techniques
What are the four two dimensions of attentional focus
- Broad - when a number of cues can be identified
- Narrow - when it is best to focus on one or two cues
- Internal - when information is used from within the performer
- External - external focus on environmental cues.
What are four attentional styles
- Broad and Internal - many cues concerning the performer
- Narrow and Internal - one or two cues concerning the performer
- Broad and External - when many cues are drawn from the environment
- Narrow and External - one or two cues in the environment
What are the somatic stress management techniques
Biofeedback, progressive muscle relaxation, centering
What is biofeedback
Measuring physical changes such as hr, galvanic skin response and electromyography. Enabling the performer to recognise symptoms and reduce stress. The performer links their feelings to the machine.
What is progressive muscle relaxation
Alternate between state of tension and relaxation of muscles
What is centering
Form of breathing control diverting attention from stressful situation
