Chapter 2 Slides

Question 1

Define personality.

Answer 1

The characteristics or blend of characteristics that make a person unique

Question 2

What are the 3 structures of personality?

Answer 2

• psychological core
• typical responses
• role related behaviour

Question 3

Describe the role that heredity has on personality development.

Answer 3

Research on the nature-nurture controversy* indicates that about 50% of the variance in personality is inherited, thus setting limits on development.

Question 4

Environment shapes at least __% of personality. What does this consist of?

Answer 4

• 50%
• Culture
• Family
• Group Membership
• Life Experiences

Question 5

What are the 4 approaches to studying personality?

Answer 5

• Psychodynamic Approach
• Trait Approach
• Situation Approach
• Interactional Approach

Question 6

According to the psychodynamic approach, behaviour is determined by…

Answer 6

several unconscious, constantly changing factors that often conflict with one another.

Question 7

According to the psychodynamic approach, conflict can lead to…

Answer 7

• poor performance

- freeze up during execution a skill

Question 8

In the psychodynamic approach, emphasis is placed on…

Answer 8

understanding the person as a whole rather than identifying isolated traits

Question 9

Describe the current impact of the psychodynamic approach.

Answer 9

• Has little influence

- hasn’t been adopted by most contemporary sport psychologists.

Question 10

What is the weakness of the psychodynamic approach?

Answer 10

Focuses almost entirely on internal determinants of behavior, giving little attention to the social environment

Question 11

Describe how the psychodynamic approach contributed to sport psych.

Answer 11

Has increased awareness that unconscious determinants of behavior exist

Question 12

According to the trait approach, behaviour is determined by…

Answer 12

relatively stable traits that are fundamental units of personality

Question 13

The trait approach believes that personality traits are ____ across a variety of situations.

Answer 13

consistent

Question 14

The trait approach believes that behaviour comes from where?

Answer 14

Behaviour reside with the person – situational or environmental factors are minimal

Question 15

Give an example of the trait approach.

Answer 15

• Competitive athletes compete hard regardless of the opponent, score, officiating, etc.
• These traits predispose one to act in a certain way, regardless of the situation
• Predispositions does not mean that the athlete will always act in the same way – he is likely to act in the same way

Question 16

Name the “big five” personality factors.

Answer 16

• neuroticism
• extraversion
• conscientiousness
• agreeableness
• intellectual openness

Question 17

What is perfectionism?

Answer 17

a multidimensional construct that consists of various components, including setting high standards, feeling concern over mistakes, and being highly organized

Question 18

What can perfectionism lead to?

Answer 18

can lead to both highly positive and extremely negative consequences (maladaptive versus adaptive perfectionism)

Question 19

Describe the current impact of the trait approach.

Answer 19

Has little influence and is somewhat embraced by many sport psychologists

Question 20

What is the weakness of the trait approach?

Answer 20

Knowing traits will not always help predict behavior in particular situations

Question 21

Describe how the trait approach contributed to sport psych.

Answer 21

Emphasizes the importance of traits and the measurement of such dispositions

Question 22

According to the situational approach, behaviour is determined by…

Answer 22

determined largely by the situation or environment

Question 23

According to the situational approach, ______ is more important determinants of behaviour than ______.

Answer 23

The situation is a more important determinant of behavior than particular personality traits

Question 24

The situational approach is _________ by most sport psychologists.

Answer 24

not as widely embraced

Question 25

Give and example of the situational approach.

Answer 25

Act confident in one situation, tentative in another regardless of personality traits

Question 26

What approach is the "split personality"?

Answer 26

situational approach

Question 27

Describe the current impact of the situational approach.

Answer 27

has little infuence

Question 28

What is the weakness of the situational approach?

Answer 28

situation will not always influence individual behaviour

Question 29

Describe how the situational approach contributed to sport psych.

Answer 29

emphasizes the importance of the situation

Question 30

According to the interactional approach, behaviour is determined by...

Answer 30

both the person and the situational factors as well as by their interaction

Question 31

The majority of contemporary sport and exercise psychologists favour the______ approach.

Answer 31

interactional

Question 32

Describe the current impact of the interactional approach.

Answer 32

- has considerable influence | - has been adopted by most contemporary sport psychologists

Question 33

What is the weakness of the interactional approach?

Answer 33

none

Question 34

Describe how the interactional approach contributed to sport psych.

Answer 34

Emphasizes the consideration of both trait and situational variables and their interaction

Question 35

According to the phenomenological approach, behaviour is determined by...

Answer 35

accounting for situational and personal characteristics

Question 36

What is critical in the phenomenological approach?

Answer 36

a person's understanding and interpretation of one's self and environment

Question 37

Describe the current impact of the phenomenological approach.

Answer 37

- has considerable influence | - has been adopted by many contemporary sport psychologists

Question 38

What is the weakness of the phenomenological approach?

Answer 38

none

Question 39

Describe how the phenomenological approach contributed to sport psych.

Answer 39

Emphasizes the contribution of a person’s “interpretation” of one’s self and environment while considering both trait and situational variables and their interaction

Question 40

Name some personality differences that can exist between players.

Answer 40

- introversion vs. extroversion - task orientation vs. feeling - type of focus - detail orientation vs. general orientation

Question 41

Describe introverts and give an example.

Answer 41

- ex. Larry Bird - Pride themselves on self-control and focus - Avoid distractions - Don't like to socialize about the game - play best in flat arousal levels

Question 42

Describe extroverts and give an example.

Answer 42

- Magic Johnson - Enjoy `mixing` it up - Physical players - Thrive on the competitive aspect of the game (out working opponent) - Confrontational help or hinder play – great athletes know the difference - play best in energized arousal levels

Question 43

Describe detailers.

Answer 43

- Specific and detailed in preparation and performance assessments – break game components down into specific elements - Can get too detailed or over prepared - Highlight differences - Focus on imperfections - Create & maintain order - Often introverts

Question 44

Describe generalizers.

Answer 44

- `Big Picture` - Read the overall situation of the game but pass over or neglect detail - They just play - Random or chaotic pre-game routines and preparation - Often extroverts

Question 45

Should psychological or personality tests be used to determine to select athletes for a team?

Answer 45

- no - Tests are not accurate enough to be predictive - Limited use

Question 46

Name 7 helpful guidelines for psych testing.

Answer 46

- know the principles of testing and measurement error - know your limitations - do not use psychological tests for team or program selection - include explanation and feedback - assure confidentiality - take an intra individual approach - understand and assess specific personality components (psychological core)

Question 47

What does knowing the principles of testing and measurement error consist of in psych testing?

Answer 47

- All tests have a measurement error - Validity is very important! - Not all tests are systematically developed or reliable - Humans tend to skew their responses

Question 48

What does knowing your limitations consist of in psych testing?

Answer 48

Not everyone can conduct or interpret a psychological test

Question 49

What does taking an intra-individual approach consist of in psych testing?

Answer 49

how a person feels relative to how they usually feel

Question 50

_______ strategies and _______ strategies are among the skills and behaviours that athletes use in competition.

Answer 50

- cognitive | - mental

Question 51

______ strategies have been shown to be related to superior performance in elite sport.

Answer 51

cognitive

Question 52

Elite athletes show superior ability to...

Answer 52

cope with adversity ad mentally prepare compared to non elite athletes

Question 53

Name some strategies that can be used when there are hassles and distractions.

Answer 53

- use adrenaline and anger as positives instead of letting them bring you down - let coaches or other personnel rectify the problem

Question 54

Name some strategies that can be used when there is a delay in start.

Answer 54

relax, think of anything and everything that makes you happy

Question 55

Name some strategies that can be used when there is loss of ideal focus in race run.

Answer 55

- think of the course in sections and deal with a mistake as a mistake in the previous section when entering the new section. A refocusing occurs - think of and deal with the remainder of the course as previously rehearsed

Question 56

Name some strategies that can be used when there is a mistake in race run.

Answer 56

- deal with the mistake as you would a loss of focus | - go for the future, not the past

Question 57

Name some strategies that can be used when there is poor performance in the first run.

Answer 57

think of the second run with a "nothing to lose" attitude

Question 58

Name some strategies that can be used when there is poor performance in the second run.

Answer 58

- determine what went wrong and why - learn from the mistake, train, and see the mistake dissolve mentally and physically - make the poor performance a challenge to defeat

Question 59

Give 5 tips for understanding personality.

Answer 59

- consider traits and situations - be informed as to the how's and when's of personality tests - communicate - observe - be knowledgeable regarding mental strategies