Sports Psychology

Question 0

What are the 3 main roles of a sports psychologists?

Answer 0

Help Athletes Cope with Performance Fears
Help Athletes Improve Mental Skills for Performance
Help Athlete Mentally Prepare for Competition

Question 1

What is sport psychology?

Answer 1

A specialist area of psychology that deals with the psychological factors that influence and are influenced by, participation in sport, exercise and physical activity.

Question 2

What are 5 areas of specialisation for sport psychology?

Answer 2

• motivation
  -goal setting

- Self-confidence
- Stress and relaxation
- Mental skills of imagery, focus and flow

Question 3

Define motivation-

Answer 3

is an internal force that activates, directs and sustains behaviour towards the attainment of a goal.

Question 4

What is extrinsic motivation?

Answer 4

is the motivation that results from rewards that are external to the individual.

Question 5

What is the difference between tangible and intangible rewards?

Answer 5

Intangible rewards:are rewards that cannot be physically held.
Eg. Prestige, praise from parents, coach or peers, or achieving public recognition.
Tangible rewards: are rewards that can be physically held and shown to others. Eg. money, awards, trophies and medals.

Question 6

What is intrinsic motivation?

Answer 6

is motivation that results from internal factors operating within the individual.

Question 7

Give three types of extrinsic and intrinsic motivation?

Answer 7

Examples of intrinsic motivation include: Excitement, Fun, Satisfaction from competing.
Examples of extrinsic motivation include: Studying because you want to get a good grade, Cleaning your room to avoid being reprimanded by your parents, Participating in a sport in order to win awards.

Question 8

Write the equation for the additive principle and explain it.

Answer 8

Intrinsic motivation + Extrinisc motivation = Maximum Motivation

Question 9

What is goal setting?

Answer 9

is the process of setting specific, measurable and time-targeting objectives.

Question 10

What are the two types of goals? Give three examples of each.

Answer 10

Long Term and Short Term goals.
Short: Work our three times a week to build up throwing power.
Long: Pitch for the New York Yankees.

Question 11

What are the six important tips for goal setting?

Answer 11

Achievable
Action-orientated
Measurable
Time-bound
Written down and displayed
Owned by the team or individual

Question 12

The 4 steps to successful goal setting are:

Answer 12

Select goal, commit to action, review and reward.

Question 13

Self Confidence can be defined as:

Answer 13

A persons belief in the self and their ability.

Question 14

A stressor can be defined as:

Answer 14

Internal or external stimuli that causes stress.

Question 15

The 2 major branches of the human nervous system are the:

Answer 15

Central & Peripheral nervous systems.

Question 16

The 2 subdivisions of the autonomic nervous system are the:

Answer 16

Sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.

Question 17

Arousal can be defined as:

Answer 17

The overall state of alertness and readiness for action of an organism.

Question 18

The Yerkes- Dodson Law concludes that:

Answer 18

Within the moderate level of arousal there is an optimum performance.

Question 19

Is emotional a type of relaxation?

Answer 19

No

Question 20

What 3 broad areas do sport psychologists work in?

Answer 20

Application, Research and Education.

Question 21

How can having a low self-confidence affect an athlete?

Answer 21

Low self-confidence can cause an athlete to perform poorly, often below their capabilities. Characteristics of an athlete with low self confidence include:
Take criticism harshly
Find it hard to identify their strengths.

Question 22

Name the function of the Sympathetic & Parasympathetic Nervous System for each body part: (Eyes, Mouth, Skin, Palms, Heart)

Answer 22

Eyes: Pupils Dilate/ Returns pupils to normal size.
Mouth: Inhibits Saliva/ Saliva levels are returned to normal so they are in increased.
Skin: Starts sweating/ Sweating stops.
Palms: Sweating Occurs/ Sweating is brought to a halt.
Heart: Heart Rate increases/ Heart rate slows back down.

Question 23

List 2 examples of physiological effects of prolonged arousal.

Answer 23

Aches and pains

Fatigue

Question 24

List 2 different psychological effects that are caused by prolonged arousal.

Answer 24

Emotional changes

Behavioural changes

Question 25

Explain one way that Mental Imagery can help an athlete?

Answer 25

Mental imagery can help an athlete see the perfect execution of a skill within themselves to realise they are capable of performing that action.

Question 26

Explain the difference between focus and flow in sports psychology.

Answer 26

Focus refers to the ability of an athlete to concentrate on an action or skill while while blocking out distraction whereas flow is the automatic and successful completion of a skill without being affected by any competing distractions.