Module 1
What is sport psychology?
In 1996, the European Federation of Sport Psychology (FEPSAC) produced such a
broad definition, which, slightly simplified, reads, ‘Sport psychology is the study of
the psychological basis, processes and effects of sport.’
Psychology is often defined as ‘the science of mind and behavior’ (Gross, 2005).
American Psychological Association’s Division 47 (Society of Sports, Exercise
and Performance Psychology) states the following:
o Sports Psychology determines the relationship between psychology and
performance in sports, that includes psychological aspects of optimal
performance of athletes, the care and well-being of athletes, coaches and the
organization and moreover it studies the interaction between physical and
psychological functioning.
Sports Psychology is a scientific study that includes the psychological aspects that
influence performance in sports. Sport Psychological professionals aims to increase
athletic performance by imparting mental resilience and minimizing the mental,
emotional, inner, spiritual and physical effects that can cause poor performance.
History of sports psychology:
1898- Norman Triplett cited his first experiment, investigating the Phenomenon of
Social Facilitation, in which performance was affected by the presence of other
people or contestants. He noticed that cyclists paddle faster when they raced together
than each one raced alone against the clock. He concluded that the presence of others
boosts one’s performance because “the bodily presence of another contestant….
serves to liberate latent energy.”
1925- Coleman Griffith often called the ‘Father of Sport Psychology’ . He set up
Athletic Research Laboratory at University of Illinois. Though the laboratory got
closed in 1932 due to lack of funds. He also established sport psychology in A.Z. Puni
at the Institute of Physical Culture in Leningrad. He also put sport psychology on map
by establishing a university course; published two major textbooks. He acted as a
consultant to professional sports teams.
1965- Sport Psychology reappeared in the USA by Ferruccio Antonelli establishing
the International Society of Sport Psychology (ISSP).
1970 sport psychology got introduced to university course offerings throughout North
America.
1970- International Journal of Sport Psychology was introduced; which was followed
by the establishment of Journal of Sport Psychology in 1979. Later, the areas was
expanded up to Britain and Europe.
1986- American Psychological Association officially recognised sport psychology as
a branch of psychology
, 1993- British Psychological Society formed a Sport and Exercise Psychology Section.
1996, The European Federation of Sport Psychology (FEPSAC) produces an umbrella
definition:
o “Sport Psychology is the study of the psychological basis, processes and
impact of sports”.
What is a sport psychologist?
Currently, in Britain, there is no compulsory registration of sport psychologists;
therefore, in theory, anyone can call himself a sport psychologist.
The British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES) keeps a register of
approved sport psychologists.
The BASES scheme for registration of sport psychologists has existed only since
1992, and many people who were already working as sport psychologists chose not to
join the register or were unqualified to do so.
The European Federation of Sport Psychology (1996) recognizes three interrelated
tasks for sport psychologists:
o research: investigation into all aspects of the psychology of sport, both
theoretical and applied
o education; teaching students, officials, and athletes about sport psychology
o application: assessment of and intervention in psychological problems
connected to sport. This can involve consulting to whole teams or counselling
of individuals.
Theory and research:
A psychological theory is intended to explain why something takes place.
The term ‘research’ is a very broad one and is used by psychologists in different fields
to mean rather different things. However, a simple definition appropriate to sport
psychology is the gathering and analyzing of data (information).
Approaches to psychology:
The BPS recognizes five aspects of or approaches to the study of psychology. These
are:
o Individual differences,
o Social psychology,
o Cognitive psychology,
o Physiological psychology and
o Developmental psychology.
,Approach Main focus of approach Examples in sport
psychology
Individual differences Variation in the Personality, attitudes to
characteristics of sport, motivation,
individuals anxiety
Social psychology Ways in which people Attitudes to sport,
interact with one another aggression, team cohesion,
team leadership
Cognitive psychology Ways in which the mind Skill acquisition,
processes information motivation, imagery
Physiological psychology The relationship between Arousal and performance,
biological and psychological biological basis of
functioning personality traits
Developmental psychology The processes of Social learning, gender
development of development, personality
psychological functions and development
characteristics across the
lifespan
Theoretical orientations in psychology:
Theoretical orientation Underlying assumptions Examples of applications in
sport psychology
Behavioral (learning) Focus is on Social learning of attitudes,
observable behavior personality, aggression
Behavior is acquired
by learning
Cognitive Focus is on mental Cognitive anxiety
processes Cognitive aspects of
Mental processes motivation
underlie behavior
and emotion
Psychodynamic Focus is on the Personality development
unconscious mind Unconscious factors in
There are attitudes
unconscious Instinct and aggression
influences on us,
including instinct
and early experience
Humanistic Focus is on human Achievement
potential and growth motivation
Physiological Focus is on Trait theories of personality
, physiological Arousal and somatic anxiety
processes
Physiology underlies
psychological
processes
Social Focus is on Social facilitation
interpersonal and Team membership
group processes
Social situation
affects psychological
processes
Jarvis chapter 2:
Pervin (1993) has offered a simple working definition of personality:
o ‘Personality represents those characteristics of the person that account for
consistent patterns of behavior’.
Broadly, four factors influence how we respond in any given situation:
o our genetic make-up,
o our experience,
o the nature of the situation in which we find ourselves, and
o our free will
Trait theories of personality emphasize the role of genetics in determining our
individuality.
Situational and interactional views place more emphasis on the situation and less
emphasis on the nature of the individual in determining how we act.
Trait theories:
There are two main assumptions underlying the trait approach to personality.
o Firstly, an individual’s personality is made up of certain key characteristics or
traits. Traits are the stable, enduring characteristics of a person.
o Secondly, individuals differ in each trait, at least partly due to their genetic
differences.
Traits can be measured according to three factors: their frequency, their intensity,
and the range of situations to which they can be applied.
Eysenck’s Theory:
Eysenck (1952) initially proposed that personality could be completely described by just two
traits:
Extroversion: It describes how lively, sociable, and impulsive a person is, whilst
Neuroticism describes how emotionally stable they are.
What is sport psychology?
In 1996, the European Federation of Sport Psychology (FEPSAC) produced such a
broad definition, which, slightly simplified, reads, ‘Sport psychology is the study of
the psychological basis, processes and effects of sport.’
Psychology is often defined as ‘the science of mind and behavior’ (Gross, 2005).
American Psychological Association’s Division 47 (Society of Sports, Exercise
and Performance Psychology) states the following:
o Sports Psychology determines the relationship between psychology and
performance in sports, that includes psychological aspects of optimal
performance of athletes, the care and well-being of athletes, coaches and the
organization and moreover it studies the interaction between physical and
psychological functioning.
Sports Psychology is a scientific study that includes the psychological aspects that
influence performance in sports. Sport Psychological professionals aims to increase
athletic performance by imparting mental resilience and minimizing the mental,
emotional, inner, spiritual and physical effects that can cause poor performance.
History of sports psychology:
1898- Norman Triplett cited his first experiment, investigating the Phenomenon of
Social Facilitation, in which performance was affected by the presence of other
people or contestants. He noticed that cyclists paddle faster when they raced together
than each one raced alone against the clock. He concluded that the presence of others
boosts one’s performance because “the bodily presence of another contestant….
serves to liberate latent energy.”
1925- Coleman Griffith often called the ‘Father of Sport Psychology’ . He set up
Athletic Research Laboratory at University of Illinois. Though the laboratory got
closed in 1932 due to lack of funds. He also established sport psychology in A.Z. Puni
at the Institute of Physical Culture in Leningrad. He also put sport psychology on map
by establishing a university course; published two major textbooks. He acted as a
consultant to professional sports teams.
1965- Sport Psychology reappeared in the USA by Ferruccio Antonelli establishing
the International Society of Sport Psychology (ISSP).
1970 sport psychology got introduced to university course offerings throughout North
America.
1970- International Journal of Sport Psychology was introduced; which was followed
by the establishment of Journal of Sport Psychology in 1979. Later, the areas was
expanded up to Britain and Europe.
1986- American Psychological Association officially recognised sport psychology as
a branch of psychology
, 1993- British Psychological Society formed a Sport and Exercise Psychology Section.
1996, The European Federation of Sport Psychology (FEPSAC) produces an umbrella
definition:
o “Sport Psychology is the study of the psychological basis, processes and
impact of sports”.
What is a sport psychologist?
Currently, in Britain, there is no compulsory registration of sport psychologists;
therefore, in theory, anyone can call himself a sport psychologist.
The British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES) keeps a register of
approved sport psychologists.
The BASES scheme for registration of sport psychologists has existed only since
1992, and many people who were already working as sport psychologists chose not to
join the register or were unqualified to do so.
The European Federation of Sport Psychology (1996) recognizes three interrelated
tasks for sport psychologists:
o research: investigation into all aspects of the psychology of sport, both
theoretical and applied
o education; teaching students, officials, and athletes about sport psychology
o application: assessment of and intervention in psychological problems
connected to sport. This can involve consulting to whole teams or counselling
of individuals.
Theory and research:
A psychological theory is intended to explain why something takes place.
The term ‘research’ is a very broad one and is used by psychologists in different fields
to mean rather different things. However, a simple definition appropriate to sport
psychology is the gathering and analyzing of data (information).
Approaches to psychology:
The BPS recognizes five aspects of or approaches to the study of psychology. These
are:
o Individual differences,
o Social psychology,
o Cognitive psychology,
o Physiological psychology and
o Developmental psychology.
,Approach Main focus of approach Examples in sport
psychology
Individual differences Variation in the Personality, attitudes to
characteristics of sport, motivation,
individuals anxiety
Social psychology Ways in which people Attitudes to sport,
interact with one another aggression, team cohesion,
team leadership
Cognitive psychology Ways in which the mind Skill acquisition,
processes information motivation, imagery
Physiological psychology The relationship between Arousal and performance,
biological and psychological biological basis of
functioning personality traits
Developmental psychology The processes of Social learning, gender
development of development, personality
psychological functions and development
characteristics across the
lifespan
Theoretical orientations in psychology:
Theoretical orientation Underlying assumptions Examples of applications in
sport psychology
Behavioral (learning) Focus is on Social learning of attitudes,
observable behavior personality, aggression
Behavior is acquired
by learning
Cognitive Focus is on mental Cognitive anxiety
processes Cognitive aspects of
Mental processes motivation
underlie behavior
and emotion
Psychodynamic Focus is on the Personality development
unconscious mind Unconscious factors in
There are attitudes
unconscious Instinct and aggression
influences on us,
including instinct
and early experience
Humanistic Focus is on human Achievement
potential and growth motivation
Physiological Focus is on Trait theories of personality
, physiological Arousal and somatic anxiety
processes
Physiology underlies
psychological
processes
Social Focus is on Social facilitation
interpersonal and Team membership
group processes
Social situation
affects psychological
processes
Jarvis chapter 2:
Pervin (1993) has offered a simple working definition of personality:
o ‘Personality represents those characteristics of the person that account for
consistent patterns of behavior’.
Broadly, four factors influence how we respond in any given situation:
o our genetic make-up,
o our experience,
o the nature of the situation in which we find ourselves, and
o our free will
Trait theories of personality emphasize the role of genetics in determining our
individuality.
Situational and interactional views place more emphasis on the situation and less
emphasis on the nature of the individual in determining how we act.
Trait theories:
There are two main assumptions underlying the trait approach to personality.
o Firstly, an individual’s personality is made up of certain key characteristics or
traits. Traits are the stable, enduring characteristics of a person.
o Secondly, individuals differ in each trait, at least partly due to their genetic
differences.
Traits can be measured according to three factors: their frequency, their intensity,
and the range of situations to which they can be applied.
Eysenck’s Theory:
Eysenck (1952) initially proposed that personality could be completely described by just two
traits:
Extroversion: It describes how lively, sociable, and impulsive a person is, whilst
Neuroticism describes how emotionally stable they are.
