Psychological skills

Question 1

What is psychological skill therapy?

Answer 1

(Weinberg and Gould 2015)- ‘systematic and consistent practice of mental or psychological skills for the purpose of enhancing performance, increasing enjoyment, or achieving greater sport and physical activity self satisfaction’

There is a distinguish between basic and advanced psychological skills

Question 2

what are basic psychological skills

Answer 2

relaxation
goal setting
imagery
self talk

Question 3

Advanced psychological skills

Answer 3

controlling anxiety
optimising self confidence
motivation
attention

Question 4

What causes anxiety?

Answer 4

perceived importance/ predisposition/ attributions and expectations/ perfectionism

Question 5

coping categories

Answer 5

problem focused coping- effects to alter or manage the problem that is causing the stress. part of this- info gathering, goal setting, self talk

emotion focused coping- regulating the emotional response to the stressor- mediation/relaxation/wishful thinking/reappraisal

Question 6

The matching hypothesis

Answer 6

Techniques should be matches/ used for maximum effectiveness.
anxiety technique should be matched to specific anxiety problem like cognitive anxiety= mental relaxation

Question 7

how to control anxiety (general state)

Answer 7

• understanding the pressure experience
• constructive interpretation signals
• giving specific instructions
• adhering to pre performance routines
• constructive thinking
• stimulated training

Question 8

aims of psych skills training

Answer 8

increase performers self awareness

improve performers ability to self regulate

Question 9

The behavioural model

Answer 9

focused on learned experiences
change of behaviour occurs due to experience

classical conditioning- unconditioned stimulus (food) causes unconditioned response(salivate). Neutral stimulus(bell) paired with unconditioned stimulus(food). neutral stimulus became conditioned stimulus(bell) which made an unconditioned response(salivate).

operant conditioning- behaviours are maintained by consequences (any outcome). positive and negative reinforcement will increase frequency of behaviour

Question 10

relaxation - ‘muscle to mind’

Answer 10

breathing exercises- taking a complete breath, sighing with exhalation, rhythmic breathing

progressive relaxation (Jacobson 1938)- progressive relaxation- active PR- differential PR- Abbreviated active PR- passive PR- quick body scan. you find tension and then relax where that tension is.
example- tense for 5 seconds release for 10 seconds

Diaphragmatic Breathing- telling an athlete how to breath properly and how to focus on breath.

Applied relaxation (Ost 1987)- PMR+ breathing. works through cueing and application.

Acclimatisation training- importance of practicing under anxiety

Question 11

ABC cognitive restructuring

Answer 11

ration emotive therepy (Ellis 1987)

Activating even
Beliefs or interpretations
Consequences- emotional and behavioural
then
D- dispute these thoughts with a rational response