Introducing Sport and Exercise Psychology
Figure 1:3: Meaning and Measurement of Mental Tooughness
Despite its frequent usage in popular sporting discourse as a synonym for determination or resilience,
the term mental toughness is seldom found in academic psychology.Fortunately, two recent studies
Clough, Earle and Sewell, 2002 G.Jones et al., 2002 have explored the meaning and measurement of this
construct.Before we consider these studies, however, let us examine some athletes views on mental
toughness.According to the tennis star Tim Henman, mental toughness can be defined simply as the
ability to perform under pressure cited in Coaching Excellence, 1996, p.3.This opinion was echoed by
Selvey 1998 who described the former England cricketer Mike Atherton as the most mentally tough
batsman of his generation p.
Best Line:
2002 claimed that this construct gives performers apsychological edge over their rivals, But how is this
edge evident Is it present only if an athlete defeats someone else. Could mental toughness not also
influence an athlete to perform better than she has done previously -regardless of the presence of
others Can you think of away of defining mental toughness in a more objective manner Is there a danger
of circularity defining this construct because of the lack of an independent index of mental toughness
Second, is there a danger that mental toughness involves so many different psychological
characteristics.
Figure 1:3: Meaning and Measurement of Mental Tooughness
Despite its frequent usage in popular sporting discourse as a synonym for determination or resilience,
the term mental toughness is seldom found in academic psychology.Fortunately, two recent studies
Clough, Earle and Sewell, 2002 G.Jones et al., 2002 have explored the meaning and measurement of this
construct.Before we consider these studies, however, let us examine some athletes views on mental
toughness.According to the tennis star Tim Henman, mental toughness can be defined simply as the
ability to perform under pressure cited in Coaching Excellence, 1996, p.3.This opinion was echoed by
Selvey 1998 who described the former England cricketer Mike Atherton as the most mentally tough
batsman of his generation p.
Best Line:
2002 claimed that this construct gives performers apsychological edge over their rivals, But how is this
edge evident Is it present only if an athlete defeats someone else. Could mental toughness not also
influence an athlete to perform better than she has done previously -regardless of the presence of
others Can you think of away of defining mental toughness in a more objective manner Is there a danger
of circularity defining this construct because of the lack of an independent index of mental toughness
Second, is there a danger that mental toughness involves so many different psychological
characteristics.
