Exercise and Sport Psychology

Exercise and Sport PsychologyKNR 164What is Exercise & Sport Psychology?Study of human thought, emotion, and behavior in PA

Two main objectives:1. To understand how psychological factors affect in individuals performance

2. To understand how participation in sport and exercise affects ones psychological development, health, and well-being.

ABCs of Exercise & Sport PsychologyA = affect (emotion)How do anxiety or anger influence performance?

B = behavior (actions)Why are some people so committed to a PA routine and others not?

C = cognition (thoughts)Why do some athletes choke under pressure?Exercise PsychologyExercise Psychology: devoted to the study of the psychological aspects of fitness, exercise, health, and wellness

Areas of interest: Exercise and mental healthWhat is the relationship between PA and mental health?Exercise adherenceWhat behavioral factors are related to exercise adherence?

Exercise PsychologyExercise & Mental HealthPsychological outcomes of PA, e.g. anxiety and depression Acute versus chronic exercise

Exercise Adherence50% of those that start new PA program drop out within first 6 monthsAdherence = regular participation 60-80% of time

Employment Opportunities for Exercise PsychologyCollege/UniversityTeach, work on developing theory & conducting research on psychological benefits of PA CorporationWorksite health promotion CommunityDevelop fitness & wellness programs for a recreation departmentClinicConsultant for medical/PT clinic to help injured individuals through psychological aspects of injury rehabilitationSport PsychologySport Psychology: the study of mental factors related to improving competitive sport performance

Areas of interest: Personality characteristicsDo personality influence athletic performance?Pre-performance anxietyWhat is the relationship between preperformance anxiety and sports performance? Performance enhancement techniquesWhich performance enhancement techniques are more successful?Sport PsychologyPersonality characteristicsConflicting results on the impact of personality on performance early on. A negative relationship exists b/w psychopathology and performance (Morgan, 1985)

Pre-performance anxietyRelationship b/w preperformance anxiety and sports performanceMore than 30 different anxiety measures Sport PsychologyPerformance enhancement techniquesPsychological interventions to improve sports performanceMental ImageryInternalized mental rehearsalGoal Setting Attainment of a specific level of proficiency on a taskMotivationWhat success and failure mean to that individualIntrinsic versus Extrinsic MotivationConfidence EnhancementBelief that one will be successful. Based on state and trait propertiesSport PsychologyConsidered a graduate-level fieldSome schools offer undergraduate minors

Fully credentialed sport psychologist advanced degree in sports psychology requiredEmployment Opportunities for Sports PsychologyCollege/universityteaching, research, working with collegiate athletic programProfessional sports teamsconsulting sport psychologist for individual athletes or teamsUnited States Olympic Committee national teamsUnited States militaryvarious motivational and behavioral functionsClinical psychologistSport and Exercise Psychology Orientations:Psychophysiological Orientation:

Best way to study behavior during sport / exercise is by examining physiological processes in the brain; brain-body connections

Examples: Using biofeedback to train biathletes to shoot between heartbeats Examining changes in serotonin as explanation for psychological benefit of exercise

Sport and Exercise Psychology Orientations:2. Social Psychological OrientationAssumption is behavior is determined by interchange between person and their environment

Examples: How does leader behavior influence team cohesion? Are people with high esteem more comfortable in same-gender exercise settings?

Sport and Exercise Psychology Orientations:Cognitive-Behavioral Orientation:Emphasis is on athletes / exercisers thoughts and behaviors

Examples: Is there a self-fulfilling prophecy linking self-talk and batting slumps?What does an exceptional athlete think about when in the gameCan game preparation be influenced?

Research Methods in Sport and Exercise PsychologyQuestionnaires Psychological inventories: standardized measures of specific forms of thoughts, feelings, or behaviors

InterviewsStructured, systematic to gain in-depth understanding of individuals beliefs, experiences or valuesResearch Methods in Sport and Exercise PsychologyObservationsIn field observation of behavior to study a phenomena naturally

Physiological MeasuresPhysical, mental, and emotional responses (biofeedback) including muscle tension and brain wavese.g. blood pressure and heart rate to assess effects of psychological stressors on individuals