Psych3480 PSYCHOLOGY OF SPORTS EXAM STUDY
GUIDE 2022
Unit 01: An Introduction to Sport Psychology and Research Perspectives
Sport and Sport Psychology
• Study of the influence of cognitive, behavioral, social and emotional factors on sport
• Psychologists define sport psychology as the scientific study of the psychological factors
that influence and are influenced by participation and performance in sport, exercises
and physical activity as well as the application of the knowledge gained through this
study to everyday settings
• Two concepts that are particularly important to sport psychology and exercise:
o Positive psychology: belief that the study of athletic behavior and experience
should focus on wellness and the quality of life not merely absence of disease
▪ Area of psychology concerned with understanding the processes that
enable people and groups to thrive
o Evidencebased practice: emphasizes that application and practice in sport
psychology must be based upon good science
• Sport and exercise psychology consultants have training in both sport sciences and
psychology
What is Sport?
• Occurs in an organized setting
• Involves physical activity and physical skill, prowess and or/exertion
• Occurs under a particular set of conditions or circumstances
• Involves competition formalized under institutional rules and regulations
• Depends upon the combination of intrinsic motivation and external motivation
o There is involvement in sport activities for joy of in sport activities, for joy
of participation (internal motivation) and there is desired to attain recognition
(external motivation)
Foundations of Sports Psychology
1. Developmental Psychology; optimal learning and performance years, heredity and
environment, maturation
2. Personality; adjustment problems, motivation, persistence
3. Perception, learning & cognition; learning processes and variables, instructional design,
media usage
4. Social group and Organizational behavior; competition and cooperation, leadership,
spectator effects, peer effects
5. Psychometrics Measurement; individual differences, group differences, abilities,
prediction of success
,Psych3480 PSYCHOLOGY OF SPORTS EXAM STUDY
GUIDE 2022
Roadblocks to Sport Achievement
History of Sport Psychology
• During man’s earliest known civilizations (Egyptian, Assyrian, and Babylonian
civilizations, 18th – 6th C, BC) hunting, horse racing, wrestling, boxing, archery,
and other martial arts were popular among the ruling classes
o Both free men and slaves were employed to provide lavish sport entertainment as
well as music, dance and dramatic theater for their spectators/audience
• B.C. 500 Greek: different types of recreation available
o Free men were needed for military purposes and physical fitness and athleticism
were viewed as necessary for protecting the state – extensive sport programs
and competitions were promoted
o Only winning was valued – no silver or bronze medals, champion was
celebrated and often became rich
o Music, openair theater, dance and lively discussion were highly valued
• Romans: involved in athletics purely for health and military reasons, did not value
music, dance and theatre
o Only nobility was allowed to partake in tournaments, jousting and horseback
riding
o The desire for greater spectacles promoted a change from athletic contests to
bloody fights, involving first animals and then humans slaves, prisoners and
professional gladiators battled to the death
• The Middle Ages between A.D 500 to A.D 1350 saw the fall of the Roman Empire, long
periods of sporadic warfare, and the rise and spread of Christianity – all these factors
had an influence on athletic and recreational activities
o Recreation of all forms was judged as a sin because it interfered with the purpose
of life
o Only nobility were allowed to partake in tournaments, jousting and other
events on horseback
2
,Psych3480 PSYCHOLOGY OF SPORTS EXAM STUDY
GUIDE 2022
• Renaissance and Reformation, 1350s1700s: Catholic Church declined in power which
causes a rekindling of interest in the arts and recreation
o Working class was permitted to participate in games of soccer, boxing, cock
fighting
o The beliefs of the Protestant church leaders led to prohibitions on most forms
of recreation and sports
o Hunting, gambling and other recreational sports were enjoyed mainly by
wealthy families
o Though as colonies grew and became more established, activities
developed across classes in sports like: horseback riding, billiards,
handball, soccer
Key Dates
Science and Sport
• Scientific psychology: systematic study of behavior and experience whether they are
public, observable behavior or private thoughts
• Applications of psychology to sport are based mainly on empirical studies of behavior,
that is, systematic methods of observation used to test hypotheses about phenomena
Scientific Method
• Sport psychology depends mainly upon experimental research conducted in labs and
fields settings and by nonexperimental methods of observation in various settings
• The scientific methods consist of two major components: logical rationalism and
empirical verification
• Two types of reasoning occur in the connection between theory and factfinding:
o Inductive reasoning: refers to reasoning from particular instances to
general principles, from facts or empirical data to theories
o Deductive reasoning: refers to reasoning from the general to the particular, such
as applying theory to a particular case
• Experimental Approach: allows us to study cause and effect relationship
o Advantage of this approach is the ability to study cause and effect relationships
by manipulation of certain variables and control of others
• Naturalistic Observation Approach: allows us to analyze naturally occurring
behavior which can assist in understanding but not prove cause and effect
3
, Psych3480 PSYCHOLOGY OF SPORTS EXAM STUDY
GUIDE 2022
o The advantage of such research is that the observations made can assist the
understanding of certain behaviors in specified situations – however, it doesn’t
lead to understanding the causes of behavior
Careers in Sport
• Sport psychologists have several roles: clinician, educator and researcher
• Clinical/counselling: have a M.A or Ph.D in clinical psychology and focus on
emotional and personality disorder problems
• Educational: same academic qualifications and use knowledge to teach athletes and
coaches
• Research: add to scientific knowledge base and contribute to the application of
this knowledge
Predicted Trends and Issues
• Future brings increased specialization and diversification related to health and sport
and exercise principles
• Increased teaching and research opportunities will emerge
• Increased demands for training in clinical psychology
• Sport psychology interventions will do more than enhance performance, they will also
further enhance quality of life issues and individual empowerment
Ethics in Sport
Why do athletes cheat?
o Many athletes cheat in their use of performance enhancing drugs just to survive in their
sport – they are desperate to earn and keep their position on a team and can’t do this by
competing fairly
o Many athletes readily admit that they would take drugs to enhance their performance
even at the risk of serious bodily injury
o This win-at-all costs mentality of athletes use of performance enhancing drugs has
been called the Faustian mentality
4
GUIDE 2022
Unit 01: An Introduction to Sport Psychology and Research Perspectives
Sport and Sport Psychology
• Study of the influence of cognitive, behavioral, social and emotional factors on sport
• Psychologists define sport psychology as the scientific study of the psychological factors
that influence and are influenced by participation and performance in sport, exercises
and physical activity as well as the application of the knowledge gained through this
study to everyday settings
• Two concepts that are particularly important to sport psychology and exercise:
o Positive psychology: belief that the study of athletic behavior and experience
should focus on wellness and the quality of life not merely absence of disease
▪ Area of psychology concerned with understanding the processes that
enable people and groups to thrive
o Evidencebased practice: emphasizes that application and practice in sport
psychology must be based upon good science
• Sport and exercise psychology consultants have training in both sport sciences and
psychology
What is Sport?
• Occurs in an organized setting
• Involves physical activity and physical skill, prowess and or/exertion
• Occurs under a particular set of conditions or circumstances
• Involves competition formalized under institutional rules and regulations
• Depends upon the combination of intrinsic motivation and external motivation
o There is involvement in sport activities for joy of in sport activities, for joy
of participation (internal motivation) and there is desired to attain recognition
(external motivation)
Foundations of Sports Psychology
1. Developmental Psychology; optimal learning and performance years, heredity and
environment, maturation
2. Personality; adjustment problems, motivation, persistence
3. Perception, learning & cognition; learning processes and variables, instructional design,
media usage
4. Social group and Organizational behavior; competition and cooperation, leadership,
spectator effects, peer effects
5. Psychometrics Measurement; individual differences, group differences, abilities,
prediction of success
,Psych3480 PSYCHOLOGY OF SPORTS EXAM STUDY
GUIDE 2022
Roadblocks to Sport Achievement
History of Sport Psychology
• During man’s earliest known civilizations (Egyptian, Assyrian, and Babylonian
civilizations, 18th – 6th C, BC) hunting, horse racing, wrestling, boxing, archery,
and other martial arts were popular among the ruling classes
o Both free men and slaves were employed to provide lavish sport entertainment as
well as music, dance and dramatic theater for their spectators/audience
• B.C. 500 Greek: different types of recreation available
o Free men were needed for military purposes and physical fitness and athleticism
were viewed as necessary for protecting the state – extensive sport programs
and competitions were promoted
o Only winning was valued – no silver or bronze medals, champion was
celebrated and often became rich
o Music, openair theater, dance and lively discussion were highly valued
• Romans: involved in athletics purely for health and military reasons, did not value
music, dance and theatre
o Only nobility was allowed to partake in tournaments, jousting and horseback
riding
o The desire for greater spectacles promoted a change from athletic contests to
bloody fights, involving first animals and then humans slaves, prisoners and
professional gladiators battled to the death
• The Middle Ages between A.D 500 to A.D 1350 saw the fall of the Roman Empire, long
periods of sporadic warfare, and the rise and spread of Christianity – all these factors
had an influence on athletic and recreational activities
o Recreation of all forms was judged as a sin because it interfered with the purpose
of life
o Only nobility were allowed to partake in tournaments, jousting and other
events on horseback
2
,Psych3480 PSYCHOLOGY OF SPORTS EXAM STUDY
GUIDE 2022
• Renaissance and Reformation, 1350s1700s: Catholic Church declined in power which
causes a rekindling of interest in the arts and recreation
o Working class was permitted to participate in games of soccer, boxing, cock
fighting
o The beliefs of the Protestant church leaders led to prohibitions on most forms
of recreation and sports
o Hunting, gambling and other recreational sports were enjoyed mainly by
wealthy families
o Though as colonies grew and became more established, activities
developed across classes in sports like: horseback riding, billiards,
handball, soccer
Key Dates
Science and Sport
• Scientific psychology: systematic study of behavior and experience whether they are
public, observable behavior or private thoughts
• Applications of psychology to sport are based mainly on empirical studies of behavior,
that is, systematic methods of observation used to test hypotheses about phenomena
Scientific Method
• Sport psychology depends mainly upon experimental research conducted in labs and
fields settings and by nonexperimental methods of observation in various settings
• The scientific methods consist of two major components: logical rationalism and
empirical verification
• Two types of reasoning occur in the connection between theory and factfinding:
o Inductive reasoning: refers to reasoning from particular instances to
general principles, from facts or empirical data to theories
o Deductive reasoning: refers to reasoning from the general to the particular, such
as applying theory to a particular case
• Experimental Approach: allows us to study cause and effect relationship
o Advantage of this approach is the ability to study cause and effect relationships
by manipulation of certain variables and control of others
• Naturalistic Observation Approach: allows us to analyze naturally occurring
behavior which can assist in understanding but not prove cause and effect
3
, Psych3480 PSYCHOLOGY OF SPORTS EXAM STUDY
GUIDE 2022
o The advantage of such research is that the observations made can assist the
understanding of certain behaviors in specified situations – however, it doesn’t
lead to understanding the causes of behavior
Careers in Sport
• Sport psychologists have several roles: clinician, educator and researcher
• Clinical/counselling: have a M.A or Ph.D in clinical psychology and focus on
emotional and personality disorder problems
• Educational: same academic qualifications and use knowledge to teach athletes and
coaches
• Research: add to scientific knowledge base and contribute to the application of
this knowledge
Predicted Trends and Issues
• Future brings increased specialization and diversification related to health and sport
and exercise principles
• Increased teaching and research opportunities will emerge
• Increased demands for training in clinical psychology
• Sport psychology interventions will do more than enhance performance, they will also
further enhance quality of life issues and individual empowerment
Ethics in Sport
Why do athletes cheat?
o Many athletes cheat in their use of performance enhancing drugs just to survive in their
sport – they are desperate to earn and keep their position on a team and can’t do this by
competing fairly
o Many athletes readily admit that they would take drugs to enhance their performance
even at the risk of serious bodily injury
o This win-at-all costs mentality of athletes use of performance enhancing drugs has
been called the Faustian mentality
4
