Sport and performance psychology Flashcards by Ash Underwood

What are some common and not so common issues that sport and exercise psychologists face? (4)

Eating disorders
Psychological impact of performance enhancing drugs
Career transitions – athletic identity
Dealing with athletic injury

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What are some areas of specialization in sport psychology?

performance enhancement
mental skill development
anxiety and stress management
concentration and mental preparation
over-training
conflict resolution
health and wellness coaching
balancing life
weight management
rehab
psych assessment 
career transitions

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What does the bidirectional model of sports psychology knowledge indicate?

An interplay between theory and practice: facts and needs = research and in the field

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What is he definition of a team?

Any group of people who must interact with each other to accomplish shared objectives

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What are the 4 characteristics of a team?

 Collective sense of identity
 Distinctive roles
 Structured modes of communication
 Norms

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What are 3 group development theories?

Linear: develop in stages with crisis at each stage
Cyclical: birth, growth and death
Pendular: shifts in relationships

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What is involved in Group cohesion?

forces that act on members to remain in the group

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What are the two forces that keep group cohesion?

Group attractiveness: desire for interactions
Means control: benefits
Task cohesion: common goals
Social cohesion: enjoy the company

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What is Leadership defined as?

the behavioral process of influencing individuals and groups towards set goals

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What makes an effective leader in sport?

 Leader qualities – integrity, flexibility
 Leadership styles – autocratic,
consultative
 Situational factors – team vs individual
sport
 Follower’s qualities – mesh between
leader and follower

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What does performance enhancement involve?

Arousal control
Goal setting
Attention/ focus

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What does arousal regulation involve?

Cognitive anxiety reduction techniques
 Relaxation strategies
 Autogenic training
 Stress inoculation training

Imagery (internal and External)
 Re-creating exceptional performances
 Learning new techniques
 Preparing for difficult opponents

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What could be some adverse outcomes of imagery?

 Imagery that creates too much anxiety
 Imagery that directs attention to
irrelevant factors
 Imagery that is not controllable
 Imagery that makes athletes
overconfident

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What are the Factors that affect imagery?

 Nature of the task: cognitive components = greatest benefits from imagery
 Skill level of performer: for both novice and expert
 Imaging ability: better imaginations
 Using imagery with physical practice: physical practice = best

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What is the psycho-neuro-muscular theory?

neuromuscular activity patterns activated

during imaging = similar to physical practice

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What is the bio-informational theory?

An image is functionally organised propositions in the brain… either as
Response: describe response to scenario
Stimulus: describe stimulus features

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Why use imagery? (8)

 Improves concentration
 Enhances motivation
 Builds confidence
 Helps to control emotional responses
 Acquire and practice new skills
 Acquire and practice strategy
 Prepare for competition
 Cope with pain &amp; imagery

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Benefits of self-confidence include? (5)

 Confidence arouses positive emotions
 Confidence facilitates concentration
 Confidence affects goals
 Confidence increases effort
 Confidence affects game strategy

What is the Self-efficacy theory?

Perception of one’s ability to perform a

task successfully

Sources of self-efficacy: (4)

 Performance accomplishments
 Vicarious experiences
 Verbal persuasion
 Imaginal experiences

Types of goals: (3)

Outcome
Performance
Process

Goal setting works because: (4)

 Direct attention to important
elements of the skill being performed
 Mobilize performer efforts
 Prolong performer persistence
 Foster the development of new
learning strategies

What is the principle around goal setting?

SMARTER:
Specific 
Meaningful
Attainable 
Relevant 
Timely 
Evaluative 
Re-evaluate

Concentration typically consists of 4 elements:

 Focusing on the relevant cues
 Maintaining that attentional focus over
time
 Having awareness of the situation
 Shifting attentional focus when necessary

Attentional differences: experts & novices

```  Experts attend to more advanced information (e.g., arm/racket cues)  Experts attend more to movement patterns  Expert players search more systematically for cues  Expert players are more successful in predicting the flight pattern of the ball ```

Types of attentional focus: (4)

Broad Narrow External Internal

How do you improve concentration?

 Develop cue/trigger words  Develop competition plans  Improve positive self-talk

What does PST stand for?

Psychology skills training

Additional social demands and stressors within the sporting environment: (4)

Coach expectations Coach beliefs Competition demands Peer pressure

What are 3 types clinical eating disorders?

Anorexia Nervosa Bulimia Nervosa Eating Disorder N.O.S

What is involved in treating eating disorders?

Behavioural: evaluations to find bad reinforcers and extinguishing maladaptive behaviours Psychodynamic: to find emotional conflict reinforcers and changing understanding Cognitive-behavioural: evaluation of environment and pathogenic (bad) aspects of sport, dysfunctional values and functional cognitions

How are men affected in sport, to do with their weight?

Physical training can lead to increased expectations Satisfaction from an ideal Critical of appearance Social comparison

What are some Likely causes of drug abuse?

Need for physical control over performance, pain and weight Psychological stress, boredom or low-confidence Social pressures & role models

What are some reasons for using performance enhancing drugs even when knowing they could kill you/ are illegal? (4)

 Performance enhancement  Recover from injury  Prevent injury  Pressure from support staff

What is a possible treatment for drug-related problems?

Motivational interviewing: trans-theoretical model of change

What is involved in the trans-theoretical model of change?

```  Pre-contemplation  Contemplation  Preparation  Action  Maintenance ```

What are the 4 Developmental transitions involved in an athletes life?

Athletic level: initiation, development, mastery, discontinuation Psychological Level: childhood, adolescence and adulthood Psycho-social Level: parents/ peers, parents/coach/peers, partner/coach and family/coach Academic Vocational Level: primary, secondary, higher ed, vocational training/ profession

What causes the most stress and difficulty during career transitions?

involuntary termination/ retirement

What are the 4 main causes for career termination?

Age Deselection Injury Free choice

How does high/ low athletic identity affect termination?

``` High = pursue sport strongly = difficult to transition Low = may terminate early but less difficult to transition (less invested) ```

What does the stress and athletic injury model involve?

``` personality stress history coping resources interventions injury type ```

What does the bio-psycho-social model of injury involve?

Injury & severity & Socio-demographic: age, gender etc. Psychological: personal characteristics (stable) Biological: nutrition, sleep, immune etc. Social: life stress, support, environment

What does QOL stand for?

Quality of life

What does flow refer to in sport psychology?

a psychological state of intrinsic enjoyment, matching of personal ability and task difficulty (the actual act of doing the activity itself)