Sport psychology 6.1 Flashcards
Personality
Someone’s unique psychological makeup
Everyone has their own personality profile
People with react completely different or the same to a situation
Due to this, coaches must be aware of these as it can help improve performance e.g which players perform best under pressure
Many psychologists argue whether personality is nature (innate) or nurture (learned)
3 Theories
Trait Theory
Social Learning Approach
Interactionist Perspective
Trait Theory
Suggests an individual is born with innate characteristics, called traits
They are stable, enduring and stay the same in different situations
Behaviour is believed to be consistent so a performer behaves the same in most situations
This theory attempts to predict behaviour, so if a performer is always acting in the same way, we can predict the very same behaviour most of the time
Trait Theory Problems
Can we always predict behaviour? This theory doesn’t take into account personality change
Also doesn’t take into account personality can be formed by experiences
E.g an aggressive football player on the pitch could be calm and apologetic off pitch
Social Learning Approach
Suggests that rather than being born with characteristics we learn them from other people
People especially learn characteristics through those they view as a high esteem or significantly e.g. role models, friends and parents
We are more likely to learn reinforce behaviour, that is seen as successful and powerful. And copy behaviour that is constantly shown to us
More likely picked up live rather than through social media
Bandura’s Social Learning Theory
Observe —> identity —> reinforce —> copy
Interactionist Perspective
Suggests aspects of personality are developed and influenced by both genetic and environmental influences
Combines both the trait approach and the social approach.
Trades we are born with are adapted and used according to the situation
Lewin 1935 formula: B=f(PxE)
Lewin 1935 formula
B=f(PxE)
Behaviour is a function of personality & environment
Hollander Approach
Suggests personality is made up of three factors/features. (continuation from interactionist theory)
Core: represents the values and beliefs of the individual. It’s stable solid not likely to change
Typical responses: The use of the inheritance traits display to specific situations. Usually responses the player would make in a given situation
Role-related behaviour: performer might adopt/adopt to a specific role when situation demands it.
The more the environment has an influence the more behaviour is likely to change
Knowledge of interactionist perspective
Coach could use the interactionist idea to help improve team/individual performance
E.g. a coach could predict any unacceptable behaviour so removes the player by substituting them, avoiding a red card
E.g. if a player was anxious at the thought of being watched, the coach could make the player get observed during practice to cope
Credulous approach
When the link between personality and behaviour is excepted
Sceptical approach
When the link between personality and behaviour is doubted
4 colour personality
Blue: reserved, accurate, thoughtful, let’s do it right
Red: independent, energetic, direct, demanding, let’s do it now
Green: caring, calm, patient, reliable, let’s do it in a caring way
Yellow: Enthusiastic, sociable, communicative, let’s do it together
Anxiety
A level of nerves and irrational thinking
Competitive trait anxiety
A disposition to suffer from nervousness in most sporting situations
Competitive state anxiety
A nervous response to specific sporting situations
Somatic anxiety
A physiological response to a threat such as increased heart rate
Cognitive anxiety
A psychological response such as worrying about losing
