Sport Psychology: Personality

Question 1

What is the trait theory?

Answer 1

That we are born with an innate characteristics called trait. They are stable consistent and enduring

Question 2

How do young performers tend to be?

Answer 2

They tend to be rash and reckless

Question 3

How do experienced players tend to be?

Answer 3

They tend to be more calm and focused

Question 4

What is the social learning approach?

Answer 4

It suggests behaviour is learned from significant others by socialisation

Question 5

Who do we learn from?

Answer 5

We learn from people we hold in high esteem such as role models, friends, parents and even teachers

Question 6

What does socialisation mean?

Answer 6

It means developing personality traits by associating and learning from others

Question 7

What are the two types of socialisation?

Answer 7

Primary and secondary

Question 8

Who is part of the primary socialisation?

Answer 8

Family

Question 9

Who is part of the secondary socialisation?

Answer 9

Schools and media

Question 10

What type of behaviour do we tend to copy?

Answer 10

We tend to copy behaviour that we see as successful, powerful and that is consistently shown to us. We copy when it is reinforced

Question 11

What is vicarious learning?

Answer 11

Also known as observational learning, occurs when a person is motivated to learn by watching someone else work and be rewarded

Question 12

What is the process of the social learning theory?

Answer 12

Observe -> Identify -> Reinforced -> Copy

Question 13

What is the interactionist perspective?

Answer 13

A theory which combines traits and social learning to predict behaviour in a specific situation. This indicates that traits are adapted according to the situation

Question 14

What is the formula for the interactionist perspective?

Answer 14

B=f(PxE)

Question 15

What does the interactionist perspective suggest behaviour to be?

Answer 15

It suggests that behaviour is a function of personality and environment. This means that behaviour is adapted to the environment so changing the environment will change the behaviour. This would lead to a stable behaviour in certain situations

Question 16

What is the Hollander approach to the interactionist theory?

Answer 16

It suggest that personality is made up of three features. These are: the core, typical responses and role related behaviour

Question 17

What is the core of the performer?

Answer 17

Their values and beliefs 

Question 18

What are the typical responses?

Answer 18

The use of inherent traits displayed to specific situations

Question 19

What is the role related behaviour?

Answer 19

Suggest a performer may adapt or adopt a very specific role when the situation demands

Question 20

What is a credulous approach?

Answer 20

It is when you believe the theories and you accept a link that personality can predict behaviour

Question 21

What is a sceptical approach?

Answer 21

Is it when you don’t believe the theories and you doubt the link that personality can predict behaviour

Question 22

Name three theories that attempt to explain how personality characteristics are formed (1 mark)

Answer 22

Trait theory
Social learning theory
Interactionist theory

Question 23

Classify the three theories: trait theory, social learning theory and interactionist theory as to whether they represent the nature or nurture debate in sport (2 marks)

Answer 23

Nature is part of the trait theory
Nurture is part of the social learning and interactionist theory

Question 24

What does the Hollander approach to the interactionist theory suggest about environments and behaviour?

Answer 24

Suggests that the more the environment has an influence on the individual the more likely the behaviour is to change of the individual