Sports Psychology

Question 1

Define State anxiety

Answer 1

This is the subjective experience of apprehension and uncertainty that accompanies elevated autonomic and voluntary neural outflow and increased activity of the endocrine system

Question 2

Define Train anxiety

Answer 2

State anxiety relates to trait anxiety. Trait anxiety is a personality variable/disposition that relates to probability that someone will see an environment as threatening. So, trait anxiety is a primer for state anxiety.

Question 3

Define Cognitive anxiety

Answer 3

This relates to the psychological processes and

worrisome thoughts.

Question 4

Define Somatic anxiety

Answer 4

Relates to physical symptoms like muscle tension, tachycardia, and the butterfly feeling in the stomach.

Question 5

Describe the ideal performance state

Answer 5

• Similar for all sports
• absence of fear (especially related to failing)
• don’t typically analyze our own performance
• narrower focus of attention
• feeling of effortlessness
• personal control feelings are higher
• distortion of time and space (some say)

Question 6

Explain Intrinsic Motivation

Answer 6

important for all athletes. It is a desire to be both competent and self-determining. Essentially, this motivation comes from the inner reward and love for the game that is felt.

Question 7

Explain Extrinsic Motivation

Answer 7

motivation that comes from something outside, as opposed to internal sources. A lot of athletes using this motivation want to engage in sports because of their love to compete and compare themselves socially.

In a less negative view, people with this motivation will likely be the better athlete, as they have what is known as an appetite for competition

Question 8

What is positive reinforcement?

Answer 8

Positive Reinforcement is what we use when we want to increase the occurrence of some behavior. For example, we may want to increase the occurrence of an athlete’s correct footwork. With positive reinforcement we would follow this footwork’s’ occurrence with an action, an object, an event, prizes, or even rewards.

Question 9

What is negative reinforcement?

Answer 9

Negative Reinforcement is also used to increase the probability of something occurring, but the way we do it is the opposite of positive reinforcement. We negatively reinforce something by removing an act, object, or event that is aversive.. An example could be when some team does really well, the coach could take away extra work at the end of practice. This puts more attention on what is being done correctly.

Question 10

List the four types of goals and explain each:

Answer 10

Process goals - these are the goals the athlete has control over. Focus is on things the athlete is able to do while performing in order to do skills correctly. These increase the chance of outcome goals.

Outcome goals - goals the athlete does not have control over (winning, medals, ranking).

Short-term goals - usually related to training or competition. Can be achieved in a rather short period of time. Increase chance of completion as they are closer to the current skill level.

Long-term goals - stretch over many short term goals. All short term goals should lead to a long-term goal.

Question 11

Why are goals important?

Answer 11

They help direct the attention of athletes and put a priority on their efforts. This also increases effort and provides feedback.

Question 12

What are the four typical physical relaxation techniques?

Answer 12

1. Diaphragmatic breathing
2. Progressive muscular relaxation
3. Autogenic training
4. Systematic desentization

Question 13

What is Diaphragmetic breathing?

Answer 13

This simple technique is used to reach higher levels of physical performance and mental relaxation. This is often called “belly breathing”. The focus is put on deep breathing that clears the mind and increases the capacity for attention.

Question 14

What is PMR

Answer 14

This technique can be used to achieve an appropriate level of cognitive and somatic activation prior to performance. In this technique, psychological and physical arousal are self-regulated through skeletal muscle tension control. Alternating muscular tensing and relaxing phases promotes a relaxed mind and a relaxed body. You are essentially able to control the tension.

Question 15

What is Autogenic Training

Answer 15

PMR phases are replaced with attentional states that put the focus onto the sense of warmth and heaviness in a limb or muscle group.

Question 16

What is systematic desentization?

Answer 16

This technique helps athletes confront or reduce their fear. The combination of mental and physical techniques are used to replace fear responses with relaxation responses.